Government Plans Eight Floodlit Stadiums for NPL

Nepal will build floodlit cricket stadiums in eight cities within three years, giving the Nepal Premier League a route to a home-and-away format and taking top-level cricket beyond its single current venue.

The Eight-Stadium Plan

The government has initiated plans to construct cricket stadiums in eight cities across the country to facilitate the Nepal Premier League under a home-and-away format. Infrastructure Development Minister Sunil Lamsal announced the plan while extending his best wishes for the third edition of the NPL, which began on October 26, OnlineKhabar reported.

According to Lamsal, the process of building stadiums with a minimum capacity of 8,000 spectators has already begun. Each stadium will be equipped with floodlights, and the government aims to complete construction within three years. NepalViews carried the same announcement, reporting that Lamsal shared the plan on Facebook ahead of the start of the third edition of the tournament.

The announcement is a statement of intent rather than a finished building programme. No individual city was named in either report, no construction start date for a particular ground was given, and no cost figure was announced.

Home-and-Away Ambition

The purpose of the plan is to change how the league is staged. At present, the entire NPL is played at a single venue, the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, with all 32 matches of Season 3 scheduled there between October 26 and November 21. A home-and-away format would break that pattern, with teams playing matches in different cities across the country.

Lamsal said the initiative aims to expand the NPL to different parts of the country and add a new dimension to the development of Nepali cricket. In his words, quoted by OnlineKhabar: “The Ministry of Infrastructure Development has initiated the process of constructing cricket stadiums with floodlights and a minimum capacity of 8,000 spectators in eight major cities across the country, allowing matches to be played on a home-and-away basis.”

That change would matter most to supporters outside Kathmandu. With grounds in eight cities, supporters in other parts of the country could watch their team at home, and the league would become a genuinely national competition rather than a Kathmandu event with a national audience.

What the Stadiums Must Include

Two requirements run through the announcement: floodlights and size. Floodlights are essential for the NPL as it is currently played, with evening matches a central part of the tournament. A ground without lights cannot host the prime-time fixtures that draw the biggest crowds and television audiences.

The minimum capacity of 8,000 spectators sets a clear floor for each new venue. That is large enough to create a real match-day atmosphere and to make a home fixture worthwhile for a franchise, while remaining a realistic size for cities outside the capital. The announcement does not say whether some stadiums will be larger, or whether existing grounds will be upgraded rather than replaced.

For comparison, the current home of the league has been upgraded for Season 3, as covered in TU Cricket Ground Upgraded for NPL Season 3, and Kirtipur itself was dressed up for the season opener, as covered in Kirtipur Dressed Up as NPL Season 3 Eve Arrives. The new plan goes beyond preparing one ground for one season: it aims to give the league a network of venues it can use for years.

The Role of the Cricket Association of Nepal

Lamsal also urged the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) to make the necessary preparations in line with the government’s plans. In his message, he said: “We believe the project, which aims to complete construction within three years, will expand the NPL nationwide and contribute a new dimension to the development of Nepali cricket. We urge CAN to make the necessary preparations accordingly.”

That request points to the work that sits behind a home-and-away league: scheduling travel between cities, arranging accommodation and training facilities, agreeing ground standards, and making sure each venue can meet broadcast and safety requirements. Building the stadiums is only the first part; running a multi-city tournament is a different operation from running a single-venue season.

What This Means for Supporters

For supporters, the immediate effect is nil: Season 3 remains a single-venue tournament at Kirtipur, and the schedule, points table and live scores all reflect that arrangement. Matches are also available through streaming for supporters who cannot reach the ground, and tickets remain the route into the TU Ground itself.

The longer-term promise is different. If eight floodlit grounds are ready within three years, a future season could see the eight franchises playing in front of home crowds across Nepal, with local derbies, travelling supporters and a match-day economy in each host city. That is the transformation Lamsal described when he said the project would expand the NPL nationwide.

Supporters should treat the three-year target as a goal, not a guarantee. Stadium projects in Nepal have slipped before, and the announcement gives no timeline for individual cities. The sensible way to follow the story is to watch for the next concrete step: named cities, a construction timetable, or a first ground breaking, rather than assuming all eight venues will arrive together.

What Happens Next

The next milestones to watch are straightforward. First, the names of the eight cities, which will show whether the plan covers all parts of the country or concentrates on particular regions. Second, a timetable for each ground, which will show whether the three-year target is realistic. Third, CAN’s response, which will show how the league itself plans to use the new venues.

Until those details appear, the announcement stands as a clear policy direction: the government wants the NPL to outgrow its single ground, and it is willing to build the venues to make that happen.

For now, the focus stays on Kirtipur, where Season 3 is under way.