Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has decided to organise Nepal Premier League in November and December this year.

The country’s cricket governing body decided to organise the league ending uncertainty over the continuity of its franchise tournament, the Nepal T20 League, that was marred by match-fixing controversy and pay issues.

“This will be a continuation of the Nepal T20 League,” CAN President Chatur Bahadur Chand told the post.

CAN had hired Indian sports management company Seven3Sports as its strategic and commercial partner of Nepal T20–which was held from December 24, 2022 to January 11, 2023–for eight years. However, following revelation of spot-fixing and players’ complaint of non-payment issues, Seven3Sports was forced to terminate its contract with CAN, who were also planning to initiate the process to scrap the deal.

A total of 10 people including four Nepalis and six foreigners were found involved in spot-fixing in the league.

The Central Investigation Bureau had arrested Nepali cricketers Mohammad Aadil Alam (Aadil Ansari) and Mehboob Alam in connection with spot-fixing in January last year. Aadil Alam was a member of Janakpur Royals at Nepal T20 and featured in eight of the 12 matches Janakpur played in the tournament.

The CIB had also claimed that there were ‘none-transparent roles’ of Seven3Sports in spot-fixing and financial transactions.

Later, Kathmandu District Court acquitted Aadil Alam, Mehboob, and three others of spot fixing charges.

CAN has also decided to initiate a process to lift suspension on fast-bowling all-rounder Aadil Alam, directing its investigating committee to make a decision within a week.

Meanwhile, CAN suspended Nepal women’s cricket team member Apsari Begam “for breaching associations’ code of conduct’. CAN stated that Begam had misbehaved with the national women’s cricket team manager and coach during the closed camp of the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup. CAN also assigned the responsibility of further investigation to its disciplinary committee.

Begam has not been included in Nepal’s final 15-member squad for the Asia Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Dambulla, Sri Lanka from July 19-28.

-Lamichhane reinstated in central contract-

CAN also decided to reinstate Sandeep Lamichhane in the central contract.

Lamichhane was not included the central contract that was announced in February as the leg spinner was facing a trail for raping a girl.

Lamichhane’s suspension was lifted, for a second time in May, after Patan High Court cleared him of rape charges.

Lamichhane went on to participate in two of Nepal’s four T20 World Cup matches in the West Indies. He missed matches in the United States after the US Embassy in Nepal denied him a visa.

Lamichhane has been included in the Grade A category of the central contract. His contract will run until December 31 this year.

Lamichhane will be the 31st player in the CAN central contract. Kushal Bhurtel, national captain Rohit Paudel, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Dipendra Singh Airee and Aasif Sheikh are under the Grade A category.