Muktinath Bank Becomes Janakpur Bolts Banking Partner

Muktinath Bikas Bank has signed on as the Janakpur Bolts banking partner for Nepal Premier League Season 3, joining the first champions days before the new season begins at TU Ground in Kirtipur on October 26.

Muktinath Bikas Bank joins Janakpur Bolts for Season 3

Muktinath Bikas Bank Limited has signed a memorandum of understanding to become the official banking partner of Janakpur Bolts for Nepal Premier League Season 3, which begins on October 26 at TU Ground in Kirtipur. The agreement was announced in Kathmandu ahead of the new season, with the bank's branding set to appear on the team's jersey. The signing ceremony brought together officials from the bank and the franchise, formalising a partnership that ties one of Nepal's established development banks to the first champions of the country's flagship T20 league.

For the Bolts, the deal lands days before their Season 3 campaign opens, adding a major commercial partner to a squad chasing a second title. The franchise won the first edition of the NPL and has built a distinct identity around Madhesh Province, and the new banking partnership gives that story a prominent commercial backer for the season ahead.

What the Janakpur Bolts banking partner deal covers

The partnership goes beyond the logo on the jersey. According to the bank, the collaboration reflects a full commitment to connecting with communities through cricket in Nepal, encouraging local talent and supporting young people. That community focus matches the franchise's own identity: the Bolts have built their following around Madhesh Province, and the bank's philosophy, in the words of its leadership, is that the bank should go to the people, not the people to the bank.

For supporters, the most visible part of the deal will be the Muktinath Bikas Bank branding on the Janakpur Bolts jersey during Season 3. Behind that branding, the two sides have framed the partnership as shared work: the bank strengthens its relationship with customers, communities and stakeholders, while the franchise gains a stable partner as it tries to return to the top of the league.

What the bank and the franchise said

Muktinath Bikas Bank chief executive Tara Manandhar said the bank was proud to collaborate with the Bolts as they aim for excellence in the third season, presenting the partnership as community work through cricket rather than a jersey deal alone. The bank, which prioritises customer-focused service, modern banking and financial inclusion in the Nepali banking sector, described the agreement as a chance to connect with communities through sport and contribute to the development of Nepali cricket.

Dream Sports chief executive Niroj Khatiwada, whose company operates Janakpur Bolts, welcomed the agreement warmly. "We are extremely happy to have an institution like Muktinath Bikas Bank, which has a deep connection with the community, as our official banking partner," he said. "As the winner of the first edition of NPL, our goal is to bring the title back to Janakpur this season." He added that the support of the bank would give the team more energy both on and off the field, and that the collaboration would strengthen a shared commitment to promoting young talent from Madhesh.

Janakpur Bolts and the Season 3 title race

Janakpur Bolts enter Season 3 as the league's first champions, but with a point to prove after finishing eighth in the second season. The squad is led by captain Harmeet Singh, with Shivnarine Chanderpaul as head coach, and Lalit Rajbanshi as the franchise's marquee domestic player. Their campaign opens against Kathmandu Gorkhas on October 29 at TU Ground in Kirtipur, the first of 32 matches in a season that runs to November 21.

The title race context makes the banking partnership timely. With every Season 3 match carrying official ICC T20 status, runs, wickets and individual performances now count in official T20 statistics, raising the stakes for players chasing international recognition. A settled commercial base, with a banking partner on board before a ball is bowled, lets the franchise focus on the cricket: returning the trophy to Janakpur.

Banking partners and the NPL's commercial growth

The Muktinath Bikas Bank deal is the latest sign of brands buying into the NPL's third season. The league's broadcast rights for Season 3 went to NetTV for worldwide streaming and Himalaya Television for linear television in Nepal, while eSewa handles ticketing, and franchises have been adding sponsors across categories, from telecom to banking. No sponsorship value was given in the announcements of the Janakpur Bolts deal, and the financial terms were not made public.

For the league, the value of such deals is not only financial. A bank with branches and customers across the country brings the NPL to audiences who may never visit a stadium, and a team with a strong regional identity gives the bank a community story to tell. That exchange, community reach for commercial support, is the model the NPL's sponsorship market is now built on.