DRS, ICC sanction, international stars and upgraded stadium facilities mark the tournament’s return to Kirtipur on October 26.

Eight teams will compete for four places in the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier, with Nepal, the UAE, Namibia and Canada among the participants.

The recognition means performances in the October 26-November 21 tournament will count towards official T20 statistics.

The 16-team tournament will run for 17 days, with Kathmandu hosting Nepal’s group-stage matches against Ireland, India and West Indies.

The system will use 3D ball-tracking and AI-based edge detection to help review umpiring decisions, including LBW, run-outs and stumpings.

The two-time T20 World Cup winner has scored 9,933 runs and taken 539 wickets in 611 T20 matches, making him one of the most experienced players in the format.

Yuvraj Samra’s maiden ODI century helped Canada secure a 24-run victory, leaving Nepal with one match remaining in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2.

KC smashed a quickfire 40 off 16 before getting run out in the last ball of the first innings.

Oman beat Canada by 41 runs in Muscat, easing Nepal’s battle for a top-six finish in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2.

The national team skipper lifted the Canada Super 60 title with Toronto Sixers last week, hitting the winning runs.

Nepal face Canada and Oman in four matches as they seek wins and a stronger finish to their League-2 campaign.

Nepal’s quarter-final against Sri Lanka in Nagoya was abandoned without a toss, with Sri Lanka advancing under the tournament’s higher-ranking rule.

The win has increased Nepal’s chances of marching on to the quarterfinals against Asian powerhouses. The Rhinos face Japan tomorrow.

Nepal had lost to Afghanistan in the quarterfinals of the 2014 Asian Games in South Korea. Now, the duo come face to face after over a decade.

Reigning champions Lumbini kick off their title defence at Kirtipur, leading a 27-day fixture list that features 21 league matches and four playoff games.

Alongside Paudel, UAE’s Adeeb Usmani and Khuzaima Tanveer were also fined for breaching the code.

The former Australian opener, who has won the biggest tournaments in all three formats of cricket, will be debuting in the Nepal Premier League in its upcoming third season.

Aasif Sheikh’s brilliant 102 and a 44-run victory in Malaysia send the Rhinos to the 2027 Asia Cup in Bangladesh alongside cricket’s continental giants.

Nepal defended a low total against Oman in the semis on Thursday to set up a high-stakes final against arch-rivals UAE, with a direct berth to the 2027 Asia Cup on the line.

The Gorkhas inform that Shikhar Insurance will be their ‘golden partner’, and its logo will be displayed on the back of the jersey for the third Nepal Premier League.