The match times for the third edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) have been revised following the introduction of the Decision Review System (DRS) in the tournament, with all of the edition's matches set to be played at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. The change, reported by Nepal Press and Pradesh Khabar, means the previously published schedule has been amended, with the timing of some matches adjusted to accommodate the new technology.
A revised schedule for the new season
The revision alters the fixtures timetable that had been circulated earlier for the third edition of the league. According to the reports, the schedule published before the DRS announcement has been replaced, and while the fixtures themselves stand, the start times of a number of matches have been shifted.
Organisers have pointed to the implementation of the DRS as the reason behind the reshuffle. Review systems add stoppages to a cricket match: each referral pauses play while the television umpire examines replays, and those minutes can add up over the course of a game. Building that additional time into the playing window is the practical justification for moving match times.
The key changes announced are:
- Match times for the third NPL edition have been changed after the introduction of the DRS.
- The previously published schedule has been revised, with some match timings adjusted.
- All matches will be played at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.
Fans planning to follow the tournament in person or on screen have been advised to consult the updated schedule rather than the timings released earlier, since several games will no longer begin at the hours originally listed.
What the DRS brings to the NPL
The Decision Review System allows teams to challenge certain decisions made by the on-field umpires. When a review is taken, the third umpire assesses the available technology, typically including ball-tracking and edge-detection tools, before either upholding or overturning the original call.
For a franchise league like the NPL, the arrival of the DRS is a significant step. It aligns the competition more closely with international practice, where review technology is now standard at the highest level, and it reduces the chance that obvious umpiring errors decide results. It also adds a layer of strategy for captains, who must judge when to spend their limited reviews and how to manage them across an innings.
The technology is not without its trade-offs. Reviews take time, and a contested decision can hold up play for several minutes while replays are studied. With multiple reviews possible in a single match, organisers need to allow a longer window for each game, which is why the NPL's match times have had to be recalculated for the new edition.
Kirtipur takes centre stage
Every match of the third edition will be staged at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, the venue in Kirtipur that has long served as the principal home of Nepali cricket and of the national team. Concentrating the entire tournament at a single ground simplifies logistics for teams, officials and broadcasters alike, and it gives supporters one familiar destination for all of the action.
The ground is widely known for the atmosphere generated by its crowds, and hosting the full schedule there underlines Kirtipur's status as the heart of the game in Nepal. It also means players will adapt to a single set of conditions throughout the competition, something that can shape both team selection and tactics as the league progresses.
A step forward for the league
Launched in 2024, the Nepal Premier League has quickly established itself as the country's premier franchise competition, bringing together teams from across Nepal under the organisation of the Cricket Association of Nepal. Its third edition now carries the added distinction of full decision-review technology, a marker of the league's growing ambition and professionalism.
The schedule change is a modest administrative adjustment on the surface, but it reflects a larger shift: a domestic league investing in the tools of the modern international game. For players, the ability to review decisions removes a long-standing source of frustration; for umpires, it provides a safety net at a time of increasing scrutiny; and for fans, it promises fewer moments of controversy deciding matches.
As the tournament approaches, attention will turn to how the DRS performs in Nepali conditions and how the revised timings work in practice for spectators and broadcasters. What is certain is that when the third edition begins in Kirtipur, every referral, review and overturned decision will be backed by technology, and by a schedule rebuilt around it.
