NPL's third season begins today: PM to inaugurate, Lumbini face Sudurpashchim

The third edition of the Nepal Premier League, or NPL, begins today, Monday. Defending champions Lumbini Lions face runners-up Sudurpashchim Royals in the opening match at 5 pm at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah is scheduled to inaugurate the tournament by greeting players from both teams and handing the ball to the umpire. According to organizers CAN and the Prime Minister's Secretariat, the ceremony will be kept short and the prime minister will not give a speech.

Ahead of the inauguration, PM Shah wished the tournament well on Facebook, calling NPL the country's biggest sporting festival. Lumbini is captained by Rohit Paudel and Sudurpashchim by Dipendra Singh Airee.

In the previous edition's final, Lumbini beat Sudurpashchim by 6 wickets to win the title. Janakpur Bolts had won the title in the first edition.

A total of 32 matches will be played in this edition featuring eight teams. All tickets for the opening day have been sold out. More than a thousand security personnel have been deployed for security from the ground to the hotels where players are staying.

Matches will be broadcast live on Himalayan Sports Channel, and viewers will not have to pay any extra fee for it.