Rain risk and absent stars at the NPL; NSL says it approved no rival league
A rain forecast and missing overseas players hung over the Nepal Premier League on October 29. In football, the Nepal Super League said it has authorised no other league.
Two of Nepal's domestic leagues were in the news this week: the Nepal Premier League (NPL) cricket tournament contended with a rain forecast and missing overseas players, and the Nepal Super League (NSL) said it has given no one permission to run another football league.
Rain risk and absent players at the NPL
Setopati reported on the morning of Thursday, October 29, that the sky over the Tribhuvan University cricket ground in Kirtipur had been cloudy since dawn and that scattered afternoon rain was forecast. Citing a local forecast, it put the chance of rain at 12 to 16 percent between 1 pm and 3 pm, rising to 47 percent at 4 pm and 51 percent at 5 pm — the time the day's second match, between Karnali Yaks and Biratnagar Kings, was due to start. The first match, Janakpur Bolts against Kathmandu Gorkhas, was set for 12:30 pm. Later that day, Nepal Views reported that the ground had been covered with tarpaulins after light rain.
Some overseas names were also missing from that day's team sheets. Onlinekhabar reported on October 29 that New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham was on the bench for Janakpur Bolts against Kathmandu Gorkhas; Janakpur captain Harmeet Singh said at the toss that Neesham was not playing for personal reasons, and Bangladesh's Saif Hassan took his place. Kathmandu Gorkhas, captained by Karan KC in their first match, were without Australian David Warner, who had not yet arrived in Nepal, and Australian all-rounder Will Bosisto was also unavailable for the opening game.
NSL says it approved no rival league
In football, the NSL said in a press statement on Tuesday, October 27, that it has not authorised the formation or operation of any other league in Nepal, denying recent news reports, according to Onlinekhabar. The statement, issued by NSL Managing Director Shreyans Karki, said the NSL alone holds the right to organise the country's only recognised nationwide, city-based football league.
The NSL said it remains committed to its long-term vision for Nepali football and to its existing rights and responsibilities, and that the game's future depends on cooperation, respect and a shared commitment centred on players and supporters.