Cricket Kitchen

Top Six Teams Finalized for Jay Trophy as PM Cup League Ends

April 15, 2026

Kathmandu – The top six teams of the Prime Minister Cup One-Day Cricket Tournament have been confirmed, securing their spots for the upcoming Jay Trophy (two-day) Men’s Elite Cup next season.

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) had earlier announced that the top six teams from the PM Cup would qualify for the Jay Trophy. With the conclusion of the league stage on Wednesday, all six qualifying teams have now been finalized.

In the final league matches, Tribhuvan Army Club edged past Lumbini Province by one wicket, while Madhesh Province defeated Nepal Police Club by four wickets. Despite the narrow loss, Lumbini secured the sixth position and qualified for the Jay Trophy, edging Gandaki Province on net run rate after both teams finished with nine points from nine matches.

Madhesh climbed to fourth place with its win over Police and also secured qualification. Nepal Police Club, despite the defeat, finished fifth with nine points, ahead on net run rate.

Previously, only the top four teams qualified for the Jay Trophy, but CAN revised the format this season to include the top six teams.

Among the 10 participating teams, Tribhuvan Army Club remained unbeaten in the league stage, finishing at the top with 17 points from nine matches, including eight wins, while one match was abandoned due to rain. They will face Sudurpashchim Province, who finished second with 12 points from six wins, in the final on Friday.

APF Club and Madhesh Province both secured 11 points from nine matches, but APF finished third due to a superior net run rate, with Madhesh in fourth.

In the match held in Birgunj, Nepal Police set a modest target of 131 runs, which Madhesh chased down in 24.1 overs, losing six wickets. After an early setback, Araniko Yadav led the chase with a brilliant 65 off 44 balls, including three fours and six sixes. He shared a 48-run partnership with Himanshu Dutta and later added an unbeaten 54-run stand with Rupesh Singh, who remained not out on 27.

For Police, Gulshan Jha took three wickets, while Sagar Dhakal claimed two and Lalit Rajbanshi one. Earlier, Police were bowled out for 130 in 40.3 overs, with Pawan Sarraf, Ranjit Kumar, and Ashik Baitha taking three wickets each for Madhesh.

In another match at Janakpur’s Ramjanaki Cricket Ground, Lumbini posted 138 runs before being bowled out in 39.2 overs. Ranjit Khadka top-scored with 28 runs. In response, Army chased down the target in 25.2 overs despite losing nine wickets.

Kushal Malla delivered an all-round performance, taking four wickets and scoring 41 runs. Santosh Yadav took five wickets and Nirmal Gurung claimed four for Lumbini, but their efforts were not enough to stop Army’s victory.

With the league stage concluded, attention now turns to the final and the upcoming Jay Trophy, where the top six teams will compete in a longer format competition.