Political Leaders Line Up to Wish NPL Season 3 Success

With the third season of the Nepal Premier League underway at Kirtipur, cricket has become a talking point in Nepal's political circles, with Prime Minister Balendra Shah and leaders of the major parties taking to social media to wish the tournament success.

Cross-Party Messages for the NPL

Online Khabar reported on October 27 that with the third edition of the Nepal Premier League underway, cricket has become a talking point in political circles, with Prime Minister Balendra Shah and leaders of major political parties taking to social media to wish the tournament success. The messages span the spectrum, from Rabi Lamichhane, chair of the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party, to Gagan Kumar Thapa, president of the main opposition Nepali Congress.

Former prime ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Baburam Bhattarai, Speaker DP Aryal and National Assembly Chair Narayan Dahal all conveyed messages, according to the report, as did Nepali Congress senior vice-president Bishwa Prakash Sharma and general secretary Pradip Paudel. The breadth of the list is the story: the NPL, barely three seasons old, is being treated by the country's political class as a national event rather than a sporting sideshow.

Online Khabar notes that the leaders' messages show sport is no longer confined to competition on the field: cricket's popularity, national pride and youth appeal have made it a subject political leaders now feel compelled to address in public.

Prime Minister's Festival Message

Prime Minister Balen Shah's message set the tone. He wrote: “Nepal's biggest sporting festival, the Nepal Premier League (NPL), begins today. In a short period, the NPL has succeeded in becoming a grand sporting festival.” He welcomed the international players and commentators, wished Nepali players, organisers and CAN success, closing with: “Long live Nepali cricket.”

Shah went further than a message. On Monday he visited the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur to inaugurate the tournament, interacted with players and handed the ball to the match referee, Online Khabar reports. He also thanked CAN officials, franchise teams, sponsors and everyone involved in management. The Kathmandu Post had earlier confirmed the visit through the Prime Minister's press expert Dipa Dahal, and carried the same message of best wishes to players, organisers and CAN, as covered in our report on the Prime Minister's opening-day visit.

Opposition Voices and Former Prime Ministers

Nepali Congress president Gagan Kumar Thapa struck a reflective note, writing on Facebook that years of struggle, hard work and dedication lie behind Nepali cricket reaching its present position. He extended his best wishes to players, teams, CAN and fans, and expressed confidence Nepali cricket would reach greater heights.

RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane called the NPL a national festival of Nepali sports and a demonstration of the country's sporting strength and potential. “This success conveys one message: ‘We can do it,’” he wrote, wishing the third edition great success.

Former prime minister Prachanda expressed confidence that the tournament would contribute to the development of Nepali cricket and the identification and nurturing of talent, writing: “Best wishes to all teams for excellent performances.” Former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai welcomed the international players and the Decision Review System, saying both would help raise the NPL's international profile and promote sports tourism. Shortly before Monday's opening match he also posted photographs, including one showing Prime Minister Balen shaking hands with Sher Malla, writing: “May the first match of NPL-3 be exciting! Whoever wins, may the victory belong to good sporting spirit.”

Speakers, Assembly Chair and Congress Leaders

Speaker DP Aryal noted that the NPL, running for a month at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, was increasingly establishing itself as an important celebration of Nepali sports. He called the ICC-recognised tournament's expanded international identity a positive achievement for Nepali cricket, for which CAN deserves appreciation. He expressed confidence that the league would contribute to the development of Nepali cricket, the promotion of sports tourism and the stimulation of the national economy.

National Assembly Chair Narayan Dahal said sport plays an important role in strengthening national unity, discipline and harmony. The NPL, he said, has been making a significant contribution to increasing young people's interest in sports and their confidence, while raising the country's pride and identity internationally.

Congress senior vice-president Bishwa Prakash Sharma paired his NPL wishes with happiness over Nepal's goal against Brazil at the ongoing FIFA Under-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan, extending his best wishes to all eight competing teams. General secretary Pradip Paudel said major tournaments such as the NPL develop a sporting culture, create opportunities for young people, stimulate the economy, expand sports tourism and strengthen the country's reputation, adding: “I extend my heartfelt best wishes for the complete success of the third edition of the NPL.”

Cricket Beyond the Boundary

Read together, the messages converge on youth, the economy, sports tourism and national profile. The leaders are claiming the tournament as evidence of what Nepal can organise, host and project to the world.

The season they are celebrating runs from October 26 to November 21 at a single venue, with the Decision Review System in use for the first time in Nepal's domestic cricket and ICC recognition giving matches official T20 status. Defending champions Lumbini Lions opened the season against Sudurpaschim Royals, winning by seven wickets, as covered in our report on the NPL opener.

For supporters, the tournament continues at Kirtipur, with the schedule, points table, live scores, tickets and streaming all tracking a season that now has politics' attention as well as cricket fans'.