Janakpur Bolts, one of the eight franchise teams of the Nepal Premier League T20 cricket tournament, on Monday appointed Nepal national U-19 women’s team captain Puja Mahato as their ‘face of the bolts’.

The Mahato-led team last week qualified for their maiden ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup, defeating the United Arab Emirates by eight wickets in a thrilling Asia Qualifier match in Ajman. They will face Australia, Bangladesh and Scotland in Group D in next year’s tournament, which will take place in Malaysia.

Mahato also scored a record-breaking century (130 runs) against Kuwait during the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier, becoming the only second woman batter to score a hundred in an international game. Her 130 is also the highest individual score by a Nepali woman batter.

“The pride of Madhesh and the vibrant Face of the Bolts! Representing passion, strength, and unity, Puja Mahato embodies everything our team stands for. Together, we rise!” the Bolts said.

The Bolts also unveiled their jersey on Monday.

The Bolts, whose marquee signing is national men’s cricket team wicket keeper batter Aasif Sheikh, have appointed former Nepal boss Pubudu Dassanayake as their head coach.

The Bolts also feature national cricketers like Anil Kumal Sah, Lalit Rajbanshi, Hemant Dhami and Aakash Tripathi.

They have signed Pakistan’s Sohaib Maqsood and Muhammad Mohsin, Sri Lankan Liharu Milantha, American Joshua Tromp and New Zealand’s James Neesham as their foreign players.