Cricket Kitchen

Bangladesh Cricketers Ariful Islam, Akbar Ali Arrive in Nepal for NPL

October 23, 2026

 

Kathmandu – Two Bangladeshi cricketers, Ariful Islam and Akbar Ali, who have been signed by Karnali Yaks, have arrived in Nepal to play in the Nepal Premier League (NPL). The franchise confirmed that the two players had arrived ahead of the third edition of the tournament.

Representatives of Karnali Yaks welcomed them at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

Ariful, who has represented Bangladesh at the ICC Under-19 World Cup, delivered an impressive performance in the Top End T20 Series held in Australia. He scored 219 runs in seven matches, including two half-centuries, finishing third on the tournament’s list of leading run-scorers. He also featured for Sylhet Strikers in the previous edition of the Bangladesh Premier League.

Meanwhile, 24-year-old Akbar Ali captained Bangladesh to its first-ever ICC Under-19 World Cup title in 2020. Bangladesh defeated India by three wickets in the final of the tournament, held in South Africa, to lift the trophy.

Karnali Yaks have signed a total of four overseas players, including the two Bangladeshi cricketers. Scotland’s Mark Watt will return to the franchise, while Pakistani all-rounder Hussain Talat has also joined the squad.

Sompal Kami is the team’s marquee player for the NPL, which is scheduled to begin on Kartik 9.

The franchise also features national team all-rounder Gulshan Jha and bowler Nandan Yadav. Other players signed by Karnali Yaks include Bipin Sharma, Yunis Bikram Singh, Dipendra Rawat, Pawan Sarraf, Yuvraj Khatri, Deepak Dumre, Surya Tamang, Diwan Pun, Sachin Sharma and Shivam Tiwari.