Lumbini Lions Sign Shamim Hossain for NPL Season 3

Defending champions Lumbini Lions have confirmed the signing of Bangladesh batting all-rounder Shamim Hossain for the third season of the Nepal Premier League, announcing the move on the franchise's official Facebook page on October 23.

Franchise confirmation on October 23

Lumbini Lions confirmed the signing on October 23 through the club's official Facebook page, writing in Nepali: “शमीम हुसेन आधिकारिकरूपमा लायन्स टोलीका सदस्य बनेका छन् । अब मैदानमा अाफ्नो खेलमार्भत जवाफ दिने समय आएको छ ।” — “Shamim Hossain has officially become a member of the Lions team. Now the time has come for him to answer on the field through his game.” Nepali and Bangladeshi outlets picked up the announcement the same evening, making Shamim one of the last overseas additions before the new season gets under way.

The timing is tight. The third season of the Nepal Premier League begins on October 26, when the defending champions open their campaign against Sudurpaschim Royals at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur — a rematch of last season's final, with every fixture listed on the NPL schedule.

A left-handed option for the champions' batting

Shamim is a left-handed batting all-rounder who bowls off-spin and is known for aggressive strokeplay and sharp fielding. That left-handedness gives the Lions a different look in a batting order that already features D'Arcy Short and Niroshan Dickwella, letting the defending champions break up right-hand-heavy passages and chase favourable bowling match-ups through the middle overs.

The signing completes an imposing overseas group for the title defence. Shamim joins Ruben Trumpelmann, Short, Dickwella and Shadley van Schalkwyk in the Lions' foreign contingent — van Schalkwyk's arrival was announced just a day earlier after his 13-wicket haul for the United States at the 2026 T20 World Cup. Fans can follow every ball of the Lions' campaign through the NPL live scores page.

Shamim Hossain's career record

Shamim's reputation was forged in Bangladesh's golden youth generation. He was part of the squad that won the ICC U-19 World Cup in South Africa in 2020, the country's first global title at any level. He made his T20 international debut against Zimbabwe in July 2021 and was selected for Bangladesh's T20 World Cup squad later that year — in his debut series he struck an unbeaten 31 off 15 balls to help seal a Bangladesh win.

He made his ODI debut against Afghanistan in 2023, and his domestic T20 credentials come from a standout Bangladesh Premier League campaign with Chattogram Kings, where he scored 352 runs at a strike rate of about 160 and played a major role in taking the side to the final, figures reported by Online Khabar. Notably, the NPL will be Shamim's first foreign league: he has not played in an overseas competition before, and the move to Nepal is his first step on to the franchise circuit.

Seventh Bangladeshi signing of the NPL

The move was on the cards for several days. On October 18, Cricfrenzy reported that a reliable source had confirmed the signing, adding that Shamim would travel to Nepal after receiving a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Bangladesh Cricket Board.

With the announcement, Shamim becomes the seventh Bangladeshi cricketer to secure an NPL team. Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan was the first, joining the Pokhara franchise, where he is joined by Mohammad Rubel and Mohammad Saifuddin. Elsewhere, Jishan Alam will turn out for Biratnagar Kings, while Akbar Ali and Ariful Islam are set to feature for Karnali Yaks. Shakib, meanwhile, has committed to a full season with Pokhara, underlining how heavily the league's franchises are leaning on Bangladeshi talent this year.

Season opener on October 26

The third season of the Nepal Premier League runs from October 26 to November 21, with all matches at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. The Lions open against the Royals on day one, and the points table will begin to take shape from the very first double-header.

With the squad now settled, attention turns to how quickly Shamim adapts to Nepali conditions and whether the defending champions can turn another late overseas addition into a title-winning piece. Tickets for the season are on sale, and every match will be available through the NPL streaming partners.