The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially recognized the third edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) announced on Friday, giving franchises clearance to sign foreign players without obstruction ahead of the tournament in Nepal. CAN secretary Paras Khadka said the decision would strengthen the development and international identity of Nepali cricket. The NPL is scheduled to run from Kartik 9 to Mangsir 5.
Recognition clears the way for overseas signings
The recognition has a direct practical benefit for the league’s franchise teams: they can recruit foreign players without obstruction. That gives the clubs greater scope to assemble their squads for the third edition, while allowing the tournament to include international cricketers alongside Nepali players. CAN’s announcement did not specify which overseas players or teams would be involved.
For the franchises, the decision removes a hurdle to arranging foreign-player participation. It also gives the league a formal status recognized by cricket’s international governing body, as it prepares for its third edition. The announcement did not provide further details about the conditions attached to the recognition or the process teams will follow to complete signings.
Khadka described the ICC recognition as a positive step for the wider game in Nepal, saying it would support cricket’s development and strengthen its international identity. His remarks link the league’s status to ambitions beyond the tournament itself: the NPL is a domestic franchise competition, but its official recognition and international player access can bring Nepali cricket into closer contact with the wider cricket community.
Tournament dates and ICC conference
The third edition is scheduled to take place from Kartik 9 to Mangsir 5. CAN’s announcement gave the dates in the Nepali calendar and did not provide corresponding Gregorian dates in the information released. The schedule sets the tournament’s planned window, though the announcement did not outline fixtures, venues or participating franchises.
Nepal is also set to host the ICC’s Asia Conference from November 17 to 21. The conference and the NPL are separate events, but both are due to take place in Nepal during the period around the league’s third edition. The conference dates fall within the broader calendar period covered by the NPL schedule, according to the dates announced.
The conference will bring an ICC regional event to Nepal, while the NPL’s recognition marks a development for the country’s franchise cricket. CAN has not stated that the two events are connected beyond their timing and location. No further information about the Asia Conference agenda or delegates was included in the announcement.
A step for Nepali cricket
The ICC’s recognition gives the third NPL edition an official standing that its previous preparations did not have, and it opens the way for teams to sign overseas players without obstruction. For CAN, the development is also an opportunity to promote the league as part of the broader growth of cricket in Nepal.
The association has announced the recognition and tournament window, while details such as squad announcements, match fixtures and venues have not been provided in the information available. Attention will now turn to how the franchises use the clearance to recruit players and prepare for the competition. Khadka’s statement frames the decision as a boost to both domestic development and the sport’s international profile in Nepal.
