The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) on Monday announced the official franchise Twenty20 cricket tournament NepalT20 beginning this season in partnership with Seven3Sports, an Indian sports management company.

According to a press release issued by the cricket governing body, the proposed league has been approved by the National Sports Council (NSC).

"We have roped in Indian company Seven3Sports as our strategic and commercial partner for eight years," said CAN acting secretary Prashan Bikram Malla.

"The Indian company holds expertise in strategic planning and commercial development of franchise events like Nepal T20. Mega events like the one we are planning cannot flourish unless we have the right expertise. So we decided to cooperate with them," said Malla, adding that CAN would have sole ownership of the game.

"As we are in the starting phase, we hoped we could benefit from the partnership. Once we get mature enough to host the event we will take sole responsibility for the game. As the partner, Seven3Sports will provide us a total of Rs330 million over the eight-year period beginning with Rs39 million in the first year," said Malla.

He also informed that CAN was planning to invest all the revenue from the Indian company in the grassroots and other development projects. "We believe that the event will be a milestone for the development of the game in the country and it will put Nepal in the global map of Twenty20 cricket."

The cricket governing body of the country is planning to host the event in September later this year recruiting some of the international stars of the game. The first edition of the flagship CAN event will have six teams.

"In the initial phase there will be six franchise teams and the teams could be extended up to 10 depending upon the situation," said Malla. " Seven3Sports will pick the franchise only after consent from CAN."

CAN had previously announced to have rope in the same company in November 2020 for a 10-year period on an annual basis. But the event could not take place owing to Covid-19 and CAN had announced to have terminated the contract.

Though there are some other franchise T20 leagues including the Everest Premier League, the most renowned in the country, the cricket governing body has not organised any such tournament in the past.

According to the Seven3Sports official website, the firm is involved in sporting and other recreational activities. They have claimed to have broadcasting rights of U-14 FIFA World Cup in India, digital rights of Bundesliga and US Open in India and other South Asian countries among others.