Former U-19 captain Rit Gautam is set to play for Geyser City Cricket Club of New Zealand for the upcoming 2022/23 Baywide Premier Championship campaign.

“Geyser City Cricket are extremely excited to welcome Rit Gautam to play in our premier side this upcoming season! Having captained the Nepal U19 side in a previous series against India and MCC, we believe Rit will be a great role model for some of our junior players,” the club wrote on its Facebook page.

“We can’t wait for him to arrive and get a taste of Premier Cricket in the Bay!”

New Zealand’s highest level club cricket league is set to begin in October.

“Congratulations to Rit Gautam—signed by Geyser City Cricket Club, New Zealand,” Cricket Association of Nepal said on its Facebook page.

Gautam, who also captained Nepal U-16 team, is the only cricketer in Nepali cricket history to score centuries in both U-16 and U-19 age-group cricket.

Gautam had made 137-ball 115 not out in a 217-run victory against Singapore ACC U-19 Eastern Region Tournament in Kuala Lumpur in June 2019.

He had also scored 106 not out against Myanmar during the 2017 ACC U-16 Eastern Region tournament in Thailand in December 2017.

Once considered the future of Nepal’s one-day cricket due to his ability to bat patiently under pressure, Gautam has struggled to find his place in the national fold following a disappointing season with Pokhara Rhinos in the Everest Premier League 2021 season, where he made just 29 runs in six matches.

He also featured in APF Club’s opener against Tribhuvan Army Club at Nepal Pro Club Championship in April this year. But he was left out of APF’s remaining matches due to his struggles with the bat.