A task force formed to investigate the controversy surrounding the scandalous Nepal T20 League has concluded that the agreement reached between the Cricket Association of Nepal and Seven3Sports, an Indian sports management company, needs to be scrapped immediately.

The five-member probe committee led by National Sports Council (NSC) Executive Committee Member Ekindra Bahadur Kunwar, submitted its report to NSC Member Secretary Tanka Lal Ghising on Wednesday.

“The agreement reached with the foreign company (Seven3Sports) breaches the provisions of section 28 and section 44 (2) of the National Sports Development Act 2077 BS,” the NSC said in a press release.

“It is, therefore, concluded that the agreement related to Nepal T20 League that was executed against the prevalent Acts and Rules remains subject to immediate scrapping,” it adds.

The Nepal T20—the first ever franchise cricket league of the country—has been rocked by spot-fixing scandals and pay issues.

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police Tuesday revealed involvement of 10 individuals—including one Nepali cricketer and four Nepali middlemen—in the spot-fixing during the league that was held between December 24, 2022 and January 11, 2023.

Police on Monday arrested veteran cricketer Mehboob Alam and emerging star Mohammad Aadil Alam (Aadil Ansari) on spot-fixing charges. According to CIB Superintendent of Police Sanjay Singh Thapa, Mehboob had approached at least two players with a fixing proposal, while Aadil was involved in spot fixing in at least two matches. The cricketers duo were remanded for five-days for further investigation on Tuesday.

The task force was formed after the revelations of spot-fixing by Kathmandu Knights captain Gyanendra Malla and league’s commentator Sachin Timalsena shook Nepal T20.

The tournament was mired in controversy even before its inauguration after its organiser CAN sold the tournament’s rights to Seven3Sports for eight years for Rs330 million without competitive bidding.

The Section 44 (2) of the National Sports Development Act states that sports associations should obtain permission from the government through NSC before reaching any sort of deals with foreign governments, organisations or individuals.

Even though CAN initially claimed to have completed the necessary process before reaching the deal with Seven3Sports, the NSC and the ministry denied permission to the country’s cricket governing body.

Seven3Sports has also been hot on heels with the CIB for its possible involvement in the spot fixing.

According to CIB sources, Seven3Sports Managing Director Jatin Ahluwalia allegedly masterminded the scandal and the arrested cricketers had operated as per instructions from Ahluwalia, who fled Nepal in the middle of the tournament after rumours of match- and spot-fixing made rounds.

None of the six teams have made full payment to the cricketers and there is also lack of transparency in team ownership as half of the owners are still unknown.