CAN Awaits ICC Recognition for NPL Season 3 Sanction

The Cricket Association of Nepal has submitted all the documents the International Cricket Council requires and is waiting for a formal decision on international recognition for the third Nepal Premier League — with franchises holding back overseas signing announcements until the sanction arrives.

CAN: documents submitted, decision awaited

The Cricket Association of Nepal is waiting for the International Cricket Council to grant formal recognition to the third Nepal Premier League, with less than three weeks to go before the tournament begins. CAN Secretary Paras Khadka said the association has already submitted the paperwork the ICC requested and is now waiting for a formal ruling.

"Teams are trying to bring in good players. However, they have been contacting and holding players, and official announcements will only be made after the ICC sanction is received," Khadka said. "Most of the teams are waiting for this. We hope to receive positive news as soon as possible."

The development was reported on October 8 by MakaluKhabar English and Niguro, and it follows CAN's earlier confirmation to OnlineKhabar in September that the sanction process had reached its final stage. Eight franchises will compete in the Twenty20 competition, which runs from October 26 to November 21 — Kartik 9 to Mangsir 5 in the Nepali calendar.

Franchises hold their overseas announcements

The delay is directly affecting squad business. Teams say the holdup is making it harder to finalise their overseas squads, with franchises having to keep high-profile targets on standby rather than unveiling them. Khadka said sanction would make it easier for franchises to sign higher-calibre foreign players — including established cricketers from Test-playing nations — raising both the standard of the tournament and the international profile of Nepali cricket.

Janakpur Bolts are among those waiting. Chief executive Niroj Khatiwada said his franchise also hoped the ICC would decide quickly: "We hope the ICC will soon grant international recognition to the NPL. If that happens, it will be easier for us to bring in additional overseas stars we need."

Several high-profile names have already been linked with the competition. Former Australia opener David Warner, 39, has signed with Kathmandu Gorkhas in what is the biggest international name to play in the NPL so far. Janakpur Bolts have signed two-time World Cup winner Moeen Ali as their fourth overseas player, alongside captain Harmeet Singh, New Zealand's Jimmy Neesham and Pakistan's Iftikhar Ahmed — the 36-year-old all-rounder remembered by Nepali fans for his century against Nepal at the 2023 Asia Cup. Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza and Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan are also among the international names expected to take part. The NPL Season 3 team pages track every confirmed overseas signing.

What recognition would change

Recognition is about more than prestige. Khadka has said that if the league is recognised, players' performances could be officially recorded in their careers, with the competition possibly receiving List A or T20 status depending on the classification granted. Performances from the first two editions of the NPL have not counted in players' official career records — a situation that has long rankled Nepali cricketers.

Recognition would also ease the signing of players from Test-playing nations, whose boards often require sanctioned status before releasing their players for overseas leagues. For a league measuring its growth by the calibre of its overseas cast, that is a significant unlock — and CAN expects the participation of big names to boost the league's profile well beyond Nepal.

The Season 3 schedule is already set, with defending champions Lumbini Lions opening against Sudurpaschim Royals on October 26 at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. The first two seasons were won by Janakpur Bolts and Lumbini Lions, both defeating Sudurpaschim Royals in the final.

DRS and the bigger picture

Recognition is not the only change under discussion. Khadka has said CAN is assessing technology for the Decision Review System, which could feature in the NPL for the first time this season if it proves reliable — a move that would bring the league's officiating closer to international standards.

Khadka also pitched the league as a vehicle for tourism. He said overseas players, umpires and commentators who came for earlier editions returned with a positive view of Nepal — by his estimate, between 55 and 60 international players, and 60 to 70 foreign visitors once umpires and commentators are counted, took part in the past. He argued their visits help sports tourism, and that when world-class players speak well of Nepal internationally, the effect can reach the economy and tourism.

"We will try to give the message that Nepal is ready again and we will move forward," he said. For supporters planning to watch the season live, the ticket guide and streaming options cover every route into the tournament.