Biratnagar Kings' preparations for the third edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) gathered pace on Friday after the franchise's head coach Dhammika Prasad and spin bowling coach Dinuk Shulakshana arrived in Nepal, landing in Kathmandu ahead of the tournament.
The Sri Lankan duo's arrival formally sets the stage for the Kings' pre-tournament campaign under a complete coaching team. Prasad, a former Sri Lankan international cricketer, will handle the side's overall strategy as head coach, while Shulakshana takes specific charge of the franchise's spin bowling. The development was reported by Ratopati and Nagarik News, both of which confirmed that the pair touched down in the capital on Friday for the new NPL season.
Sri Lankan coaching duo lands in Kathmandu
The arrival of both coaches marks one of the clearest signals yet that Biratnagar Kings are moving their build-up to the new season from planning into practice. With the third edition of the league approaching, the franchise has ensured that its coaching hierarchy is in place well in advance of the tournament, giving the squad the chance to prepare under the direct supervision of both its head coach and a specialist spin coach.
The key points from the reports are:
- Head coach: Dhammika Prasad, the former Sri Lankan international cricketer, arrives to lead the team and handle its overall strategy.
- Spin bowling coach: Dinuk Shulakshana joins the backroom staff with responsibility for the Kings' spinners.
- Timing: The two coaches landed in Kathmandu on Friday, ahead of the third edition of the NPL.
- Team: Both have joined Biratnagar Kings, the franchise they will represent in the Nepal Premier League.
For a franchise, having its coaching staff on the ground before the tournament begins is a practical advantage. The weeks leading into a league season are when squads come together and game plans are set, and the early arrival of the Sri Lankan pair means Biratnagar Kings can carry out that work with the people who will actually be directing it during the competition.
Prasad to shape the Kings' overall strategy
The most prominent name in the Kings' new coaching setup is Dhammika Prasad. The former Sri Lankan international cricketer has been handed the head coach's role, with a mandate that covers the team's overall strategy throughout the campaign, as confirmed in the reports of the pair's arrival.
In practical terms, that places responsibility for how Biratnagar Kings approach the tournament as a whole on Prasad's shoulders, from the tactical direction of the side to the way the team is set up against different opponents. His international background gives the franchise a head coach with first-hand experience of top-level cricket, and the Kings will be looking for that experience to translate into a clearer and more consistent approach once matches begin.
The appointment also fits a familiar pattern in franchise cricket, where teams increasingly turn to experienced international figures to guide their dressing rooms through a demanding league season. By bringing in a coach who has represented Sri Lanka at the international level, Biratnagar Kings have made it clear that they want established expertise at the helm for the third NPL edition.
Shulakshana takes charge of the spin department
Alongside Prasad, the Kings have brought in Dinuk Shulakshana as spin bowling coach. His brief is narrower but no less important: the franchise's spinners will work under his supervision, both in the build-up to the tournament and once the league is under way.
A dedicated spin bowling coach is a targeted hire for a franchise side, and the decision to create the role underlines the importance the Kings attach to that department. Spin bowling has traditionally played a decisive role in matches in this part of the world, and having a specialist in the dugout gives the franchise an additional resource as the season approaches.
With Shulakshana now in Kathmandu, the Kings' slow bowlers can begin working with their new coach immediately, rather than waiting until close to the tournament for his arrival. That head start could prove valuable by the time the league's fixtures begin.
Third NPL season edges closer
The Nepal Premier League is now heading into its third edition, and the arrival of the Sri Lankan coaching pair adds to the sense of anticipation around the competition. For Biratnagar Kings, the immediate task is to turn the early presence of their coaching staff into structured preparation on the training ground.
The franchise goes into the new season with a clearly divided coaching structure: Prasad overseeing the team's overall strategy, and Shulakshana concentrating on the spin attack. How that partnership works in practice will become clearer as the squad's preparations progress, but the Kings have at least ensured that when the third edition of the NPL begins, their coaching team will have been in place well before the first ball is bowled.
