Dhangadhi Premier League (DPL) continued to become the country’s highest cash-prized Twenty20 franchise league as the organisers Dhangadhi Cricket Academy (DCA) have raised the cash prize to Rs 3 million this season.

One of the popular Twenty20 cricket tournaments of the country starts on Saturday at the Fapla Cricket Stadium. DCA on Wednesday announced an increment of Rs 500,000 for the champions with the runners-up alone getting Rs 1.2 million. A tournament which initially started as an Inter-college National Twenty20 competition with Rs 25,000 for the winners, now has a total cash purse of Rs 6 million.

This year’s third and fourth place finishers will also receive Rs 400,000 and Rs 200,000 respectively. The most valuable player will also get a golden shoes, while every man-of-the-match will get Rs 15,000. Prizes have also been set aside for the man-of-the-series, best batsman and best bowler.

Hosting the tournament at a new venue has hiked the overall cost of the tournament to Rs 50 million. The Fapla ground consists of five playing pitches that were laid down and looked after by curators from Mumbai. The first two editions were held at the SP Office ground. DCA President Subash Bahadur Shahi on Wednesday informed that all the preparations for the tournament was completed and they were looking forward to a smooth hosting of the event.

A total of six franchises are participating in the tournament which has revolutionised domestic cricket following the introduction of auction of the cricketers. Two-time defending champions Dhangadhi Stars, CYC Attariya, Rupandehi Challengers, Mahendranagar United, Biratnagar Kings and Kathmandu Goldens are the city-based franchises competing in the tournament.

“We have come up with new experiment in every edition and the third edition is also not going to be an exception. We are hopeful that this edition of the tournament will help in making Nepali cricket more professional. The excitement on the fans are even higher after Nepal’s recent One-Day International and Twenty20 International Series successes against the United Arab Emirates. We are expecting an equally exciting contest this season,” Shahi told a press conference on Wednesday.

Free transportation for spectators

With the Dhangadhi city currently witnessing road-expansion, the access to the Fapla Cricket Ground for public has not been perfectly convenient. To ease the access for the public, DCA has coordinated with the Sudur Paschim Transport Entrepreneurs Association, Karnali River Transport Association and Dhangadhi Sub Metropolitan for providing free transportation to Fapla Cricket Ground from Campus road.

The temporary parapet at the Fapla accommodates a total of 5,000 spectators. The venue is proposed as an international stadium by the city’s cricket campaigners that also includes Shahi. While the 20 percent of the total ticket revenue will go to Dream Fapla Project, 40 percent will be distributed to the participating teams.