Queen’s Events Management Pvt Ltd on Tuesday announced the Pokhara Premier League, a franchise based Twenty20 tournament scheduled to be held at the city of lakes from October 26 to November 6.

With the organisers already claiming it to be the highest cash-prized Twenty20, it will an addition to two already established top-notch leagues of the country—Dhangadhi Premier League (DPL) and Everest Premier League. DPL is so far the highest cash prized domestic cricket tournament offering the champions Rs 2.5 million in prize money.

Queen’s Events Managing Director Chhumbi Lama said it will give the best professional colour to the tournament. “There will be six city-based franchise teams and there will be auction of the cricketers prior to the tournament. We will give the best look to the Pokhara Stadium and prepare the pitch hiring curator from India,” said Lama. “There are a couple of other Twenty20 leagues currently running in Nepal. PPL is going to be the best of them all,” claimed Lama.

National cricket team skipper Paras Khadka said he was excited to see another professional Twenty20 tournament. “This is another good beginning for us. We are getting tournaments at different part of the country. This is no doubt a big boost for players but getting a tournament of this magnitude in a place like Pokhara is a good initiation towards making the city a cricketing hub,” said Paras who along with national cricket team coach Jagat Tamatta unveiled the logo of the tournament.

The tournament will see participation of six city-based franchise teams which will be declared along with other details in due course. Three new city franchises will be introduced in cricket through the PPL.  The organisers said they will also hold U-16 Junior PPL in Kathmandu prior to the tournament. The franchises of the PPL will form the junior PPL teams. The final of the Junior PPL will be held in Pokhara before the senior league begins.

Tamatta said Nepali cricket will gather pace if Twenty20 leagues travel in all provinces. “We have seven provinces and if tournament like this are held in all of them then definitely this will be a big boost for cricket,” said Tamatta. Paras said introducing Twenty20 cricket for junior cricketers has a particular vision.

“The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been trying to take the game to the Olympics through the shorter version. If we get our kids to play in a competitive atmosphere, this is only going to benefit our cricket in the long run. It will be a good initiation if we hope of playing in the Olympics in coming years,” said Paras.