Sahibzada Farhan to Miss Karnali's First Two NPL Matches

Karnali Yaks' Pakistani batter Sahibzada Farhan will return to Pakistan for national-team duty just as NPL Season 3 begins, missing the franchise's first two matches before an expected return on October 31.

Farhan's Return to Pakistan

Karnali Yaks' Pakistani batter Sahibzada Farhan, who arrived in Nepal to play in the Nepal Premier League, will return to Pakistan after being selected for the national team. OnlineKhabar reported on October 26 that Pakistan has called him up for the One Day International against Sri Lanka, while the Kathmandu Post reported that the Pakistan Cricket Board asked the franchise to send him back.

According to Karnali director Grihendra Ghimire, Farhan is likely to return to the NPL after the national team's match on October 31. That timeline gives Karnali a short, defined absence to plan around, rather than an open-ended loss, and it keeps Farhan available for the bulk of the season if the return goes ahead as expected.

The timing is awkward for Karnali. Farhan only arrived in Kathmandu days before the season, and his signing was one of the franchise's headline overseas moves for Season 3. Losing him for the opening week means Karnali must start their campaign without a player they had built part of their batting plans around, as covered in Sahibzada Farhan Arrives in Kathmandu for NPL Season 3.

Two Matches Missed

Farhan will miss Karnali's first two matches of the tournament. The Kathmandu Post reports that the franchise will face Janakpur Bolts in its opening game on Tuesday, October 27, before taking on Biratnagar Kings on Thursday, October 29.

Those are two very different tests to open with. Janakpur Bolts are the inaugural NPL champions and arrive with a rebuilt squad, while Biratnagar Kings have strengthened around their own overseas signings. Starting without Farhan therefore puts early pressure on Karnali's remaining batting, and on the local players who must carry more responsibility in the first week.

Once play begins, every result in the opening round shapes the early points table, and Karnali will want to stay in touch with the playoff race even while short-handed. Live scores will track both matches ball by ball, and the schedule then continues at the same ground until the final on November 21.

The NOC Fee Dispute

Farhan's return has landed in the middle of a wider dispute over no-objection certificates for Pakistani players in the NPL. Ghimire told OnlineKhabar that the Pakistan Cricket Board has demanded an additional US$25,000 to issue NOCs to the Pakistani players who came to Nepal, after the players had already arrived in Nepal with their NOCs.

He expressed dissatisfaction at the last-minute demand, saying Karnali's aim in bringing Pakistani players to the NPL was not only to watch them play but to invest in the development of Nepali cricket. In his words, as reported, Nepali cricket is at a developmental stage, and the franchise was saddened that more money was being demanded at the last minute.

The Kathmandu Post reports the same figure, noting that the board has reportedly sought $25,000 from NPL franchises for each Pakistani player's participation, and that ESPNcricinfo reported the fee could not be confirmed as formally made in writing to the league. The uncertainty around the NOCs was already covered in Pakistan Players' NPL Participation in Doubt Over NOCs, and Farhan's call-up has now turned that doubt into a concrete absence for Karnali.

Ghimire also made clear that Karnali does not see the incident as something that will damage relations with Pakistan. He said Pakistani players will be needed in the future too, and the problem should be resolved while maintaining mutual relations.

Karnali's Interim Plan

Karnali are preparing to bring in another player to replace Farhan during the period he is away. OnlineKhabar reports that the franchise is preparing that interim signing now, though no name has been announced yet, so supporters should treat any unnamed replacement talk as speculation until Karnali confirm it.

Along with Farhan, Karnali have also signed fellow Pakistani player Hussain Talat. Ghimire said Karnali had been discussing whether to pay the additional amount and keep the player in the NPL, but after Farhan was called up to the national team, he had to return to Pakistan regardless.

The interim plan matters because the season is played entirely at one venue, the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, with eight teams contesting 32 matches. A settled squad helps in those conditions, and Karnali will want their stand-in to arrive quickly enough to train with the group before the first ball against Janakpur.

What Happens Next

The immediate question is whether Farhan returns on October 31 as expected. If he does, Karnali will have lost only their first two matches from his absence, and their campaign can reset with their overseas batter back in the side. If the return slips, the franchise will need a longer-term answer, and the interim signing would become more important.

The wider NOC question also remains unresolved for the league as a whole. Several Pakistani players are scheduled to play in Season 3, and whether the reported fee is paid, waived or negotiated will affect more than one franchise. For now, Karnali's position is to keep relations intact while protecting their season, and Farhan's national call-up gives both sides a natural break in the dispute.

Fans following the opening week can watch Karnali's progress through streaming and the official tickets channel for matches at Kirtipur. The first test, without Farhan, comes against Janakpur Bolts on October 27.