KATHMANDU: A total of 52 players have been signed by eight franchises for the third edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) through the mini auction held in Kathmandu on Monday.
Out of 155 registered players, 52 were picked by the eight teams during the auction. Nepal national team opener and wicketkeeper-batter Aasif Sheikh emerged as the most expensive player after being acquired for Rs 2 million by Lumbini Lions.
Seven teams except Chitwan Rhinos competed to sign Aasif. However, Lumbini Lions secured his services through a lucky draw after all seven teams placed the highest bid.
Aasif, who represented Janakpur Bolts as a marquee player in the first two seasons, was released ahead of the third edition.
Meanwhile, injured players returning from the sidelines — Bibek Kumar Yadav, Rupesh Singh, Tirtha Raj Das and Arjun Gharti — were sold at the maximum price of Rs 1.5 million each.
Following multiple teams bidding for the same players at the top price, lucky draws decided their destinations. Bibek joined Chitwan Rhinos, Rupesh moved to Biratnagar Kings, Tirtha Raj was picked by Janakpur Bolts, and Arjun Gharti joined Pokhara Avengers.
Several notable players, including Sunil Dhamala, Shankar Rana, Bhuvan Karki, Naren Bhatt and Dipesh Kandel, remained unsold.
Biratnagar Kings Sign Rupesh Singh
With Sandeep Lamichhane as their marquee player, Biratnagar Kings secured Rupesh Singh for Rs 1.5 million after competing with Pokhara, Chitwan and Sudurpaschim for his signature.
Biratnagar added six players through the auction, including Naren Saud, Dilsad Ali, Sujan Thapaliya, Aparajit Poudel and Pratik Shrestha.
The franchise has already retained Sandeep Lamichhane, Lokesh Bam, Basir Ahmed, Narayan Joshi, Pratis GC and Subash Bhandari.
Auction signings: Rupesh Singh (Rs 1.5 million), Naren Saud (Rs 500,000), Dilsad Ali (Rs 500,000), Sujan Thapaliya (Rs 425,000), Aparajit Poudel (Rs 200,000), Pratik Shrestha (Rs 200,000), Imran Sheikh (Rs 200,000).
Janakpur Bolts Pick Tirtha Raj Das
After releasing marquee player Aasif Sheikh, Janakpur Bolts signed Tirtha Raj Das for Rs 1.5 million. Both Janakpur and Lumbini bid for the maximum price, with Janakpur winning the lucky draw.
The defending champions also added Abhishek Tiwari, Bishal Patel, Amar Singh Rautela, Rit Gautam, Santosh Karki, Ashutosh Pandey and Bishal Susling.
Anil Kumar Shah, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, Bikash Agri, Mayan Yadav and Aditya Mehta were already retained.
Auction signings: Tirtha Raj Das (Rs 1.5 million), Abhishek Tiwari (Rs 500,000), Bishal Patel (Rs 500,000), Amar Singh Rautela (Rs 500,000), Rit Gautam (Rs 425,000), Santosh Karki (Rs 300,000), Ashutosh Pandey (Rs 200,000), Bishal Susling (Rs 200,000).
Chitwan Rhinos Add Bibek Kumar Yadav
Chitwan Rhinos secured Bibek Kumar Yadav through a lucky draw after bidding the maximum price of Rs 1.5 million.
The franchise also signed Mausam Dhakal, Ashok Dhami, Bipin Rawal, Gautam KC and Salauddin Khan.
Chitwan had already retained players including Kushal Malla, Rijan Dhakal, Dipak Bohara, Ranjit Kumar, Kamal Singh Airee, Dev Khanal and Arjun Saud.
Auction signings: Bibek Kumar Yadav (Rs R 1.5 million), Mausam Dhakal (Rs 300,000), Ashok Dhami (Rs 200,000), Bipin Rawal (Rs 200,000), Gautam KC (Rs 200,000), Salauddin Khan (Rs 200,000).
Kathmandu Gorkhas Make Seven Signings
Kathmandu Gorkhas made seven additions during the auction, focusing on economical picks.
Sahil Patel was signed for Rs 500,000, while Prasiddha Jaisi, Dayananda Mandal, Sonu Devkota, Krishna Poudel, Dev Shah and Suyanshu Koirala joined for Rs 200,000 each.
The team has retained marquee player Karan KC along with Bhim Sharki, Adil Alam, Rashid Khan, Santosh Yadav and Shahab Alam.
Pokhara Avengers Secure Arjun Gharti
After struggling in the first two seasons, Pokhara Avengers strengthened their squad by signing Arjun Gharti for Rs 1.5 million.
Janakpur and Pokhara both bid for Gharti at the maximum price, with Pokhara winning the lucky draw.
The franchise also signed Sudeep Aryal, Bibek Rana Magar, Sunny Bik, Pratik Pokharel and Bipin Acharya.
Marquee player Kushal Bhurtel, Sagar Dhakal, Arjun Kumal, Bipin Khatri, Aakash Chand, Kiran Thagunna and Dinesh Khatri have been retained.
Lumbini Lions Land Aasif Sheikh
The second-season champions Lumbini Lions made the biggest move of the auction by signing Aasif Sheikh.
Aasif, who played as a marquee player for two seasons, became available after Janakpur released him. Seven teams competed for his signature before Lumbini won through the lucky draw.
Lumbini also secured Kishore Mahato through a lucky draw and brought back Durgess Gupta, who was released earlier.
Other auction additions include Aakash Tripathi, Ajay Chauhan and Araniko Prasad Yadav.
Captain Rohit Paudel, Sandeep Jora, Sher Malla, Dilip Nath, Dinesh Adhikari, Abhishek Gautam and Tilak Bhandari were retained.
Auction signings: Aasif Sheikh (Rs 2 million), Kishore Mahato (Rs 1 million), Durgess Gupta (Rs 500,000), Aakash Tripathi (Rs 500,000), Ajay Chauhan (Rs 200,000), Araniko Prasad Yadav (Rs 200,000).
Karnali Yaks Re-Sign Released Players
Karnali Yaks brought back two players they had released earlier — Bipin Prasad Sharma and Dipendra Rawat.
The team also added Shubh Kansakar, Surya Tamang, Divan Pun and Sachin Sharma.
Sompal Kami, Gulshan Jha, Nandan Yadav, Dipak Dumre, Pawan Sarraf, Yunish Bikram Thakuri and Yuvraj Khatri were already retained.
Auction signings: Shubh Kansakar (Rs 1 million), Bipin Prasad Sharma (Rs 500,000), Dipendra Rawat (Rs 500,000), Surya Tamang (Rs 200,000), Divan Pun (Rs 200,000), Sachin Sharma (Rs 200,000).
Sudurpaschim Royals Retain Released Players
Two-time runners-up Sudurpaschim Royals re-signed three players they had released earlier — Dipak Bohara, Milan Bohara and Tek Rawat.
The franchise also added Anil Kharel, Sachin Bhatt and Ayush Chand.
Captain Dipendra Singh Airee, Binod Bhandari, Aarif Sheikh, Ishan Pandey, Abinash Bohara, Hemanta Dhami and Hikmat Mahara were retained.
Auction signings: Dipak Bohara (Rs 1 million), Anil Kharel (Rs 500,000), Milan Bohara (Rs 500,000), Tek Rawat (Rs 200,000), Sachin Bhatt (Rs 200,000), Ayush Chand (Rs 200,000).
The third edition of the Nepal Premier League is set to feature renewed squads as franchises complete their final preparations following the mini auction.
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