Shakib Al Hasan Hails Nepali Fans' Passion After Pokhara Debut

Shakib Al Hasan says the passion of Nepali cricket fans left a deep impression on him after his Nepal Premier League debut for Pokhara Avengers, praising the crowds that packed every match at Kirtipur.

Shakib's Nepal Welcome

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan did not need long in Nepal to understand what makes the country's cricket culture different. After arriving to play for the Pokhara Avengers in the Nepal Premier League, he said the fans' passion for the game stood out above everything else, with large crowds and visible enthusiasm at every match.

Speaking to host Yesha Sagar about his experience in Nepal, Shakib said, “It feels great to be in Nepal. The fans are deeply involved in the game. A lot of spectators come to every match. I am really looking forward to this tournament.” Coming from a player who has spent nearly two decades in front of the world's biggest cricket crowds, that is a compliment the league can take seriously.

Shakib's arrival had already been one of the stories of the season. The Avengers announced him as their marquee overseas signing well before the tournament, and he confirmed he would be available for the full season, joining the squad on October 25, a day before the competition began.

A Debut Night at Kirtipur

Shakib made his Nepal Premier League debut against the Sudurpaschim Royals on the evening of October 28 at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Batting first after losing the toss, Pokhara posted 145 for seven in their 20 overs, a total that ultimately proved short of a winning one. The full account of the match is in our Pokhara vs Sudurpaschim highlights.

Shakib himself contributed 14 runs off 16 balls, while fellow Bangladeshi Mahedi Hasan opened the innings and scored 32 off 21 balls. Captain Kushal Bhurtel added 21, but it was Arjun Gharti who gave the innings its late push, finishing unbeaten on 40 off 25 balls. Sudurpaschim chased the target down in 16.5 overs, reaching 148 for four, with captain Dipendra Singh Airee unbeaten on 51 off 36 balls and Ishan Pandey scoring 37 off 31.

With the ball, Shakib claimed one wicket for 24 runs in his four overs, dismissing Brandon McMullen, while Mahedi also took one wicket. The defeat left Pokhara still searching for their first win of the season, a point reflected on the points table, where the early standings are already taking shape.

The Pitch Verdict

Beyond the fans, Shakib was also satisfied with the conditions at Kirtipur. He said, “The pitch was very good. It would have been better if we had scored another 15 runs. It is very important to bowl at the stumps here.” That is a practical, bowler's reading of the surface: a good pitch, a total that was close but not quite enough, and a reminder that disciplined lines matter more than extravagant variations on it.

The assessment rings true against the shape of the match itself. Pokhara's 145 was built on one strong late innings rather than sustained partnerships, and Sudurpaschim's chase, completed with 19 balls to spare, suggested the surface offered no demons for batters who applied themselves. Shakib's own figures, one for 24 from four overs, were among the most economical of the night, which lends weight to his point about bowling at the stumps.

Gharti's Late Flourish

Shakib reserved special praise for his teammate Arjun Gharti, whose unbeaten 40 off 25 balls lifted Pokhara to a defendable total after the middle order had stalled. He said, “Arjun batted brilliantly. He took his time before attacking towards the end.” It was the innings of the night for the Avengers, and the veteran's endorsement will mean a great deal to a young Nepali batter still establishing himself.

Gharti's knock followed the pattern Shakib described: a measured start, then acceleration when the innings needed it most, with Pokhara scoring heavily in the final over. In a side packed with overseas names, it was a local player who provided the fireworks, a storyline the league has seen repeatedly in its first week.

That balance, overseas stars alongside emerging Nepali talent, is the tournament's core promise, and Shakib's public credit for a young teammate underlines it.

Pokhara's Early Test and the League's Wider Gain

On the field, the result was a setback for Pokhara. An opening defeat, even against a strong Sudurpaschim side, leaves the Avengers needing a quick response in their coming fixtures, which fans can follow on the schedule and live scores pages. One loss in a long league season settles nothing, but the margin, six wickets with overs to spare, will have given coach Ajantha Mendis and captain Bhurtel clear material for the next team meeting.

Off the field, though, Shakib's reaction is exactly the kind of endorsement the Nepal Premier League needs in its third season. The tournament now carries official T20 status after ICC recognition, it has introduced the Decision Review System to domestic cricket in Nepal, and it has drawn genuine global names to Kirtipur. What it still needs, as much as any of that, is for those names to leave convinced that Nepali cricket is worth their time. Shakib's praise for the crowds suggests that part of the project is working.

There is also a wider South Asian angle. Shakib's presence, alongside Mahedi and the other Bangladeshi players in the league, has drawn attention from across the border, and his warm words about Nepal will travel back to a large Bangladeshi audience. For a league trying to grow beyond its home market, a satisfied superstar is better advertising than any promotional campaign. The next step for Pokhara is simple: turn the goodwill into wins, starting with the extra 15 runs Shakib felt were missing.