Cricket Kitchen

Eight Teams Pick 37 Players in NPL Auction

August 10, 2025

 

Kathmandu – A total of 37 players were selected by eight teams during the mini auction for the second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL). Out of 164 shortlisted players, only 37 were signed during the auction.

In the first phase of the auction, 26 players were signed. The remaining 11 players were selected from the “wish list.” Four players in the ‘A’ category were signed for NPR 1.5 million each — the highest price in the auction. These players are Dev Khanal, Arjun Saud, Aadil Alam, and Pawan Sarraf. Dev and Arjun were picked by Chitwan Rhinos, Aadil by Kathmandu Gorkhas, and Pawan by Karnali Yaks. Since multiple teams showed interest in these players, they were allocated through a lucky draw.

Similarly, Dilip Nath and Sher Malla were signed by Lumbini Lions, Hemant Dhami by Far West Royals, Surya Tamang by Biratnagar Kings, Santosh Yadav by Kathmandu Gorkhas, and Yuvraj Khatri by Karnali Yaks, each for NPR 1 million.

Other signings included Mayan Yadav by Janakpur Bolts for NPR 775,000 and Aakash Tripathi by Kathmandu Gorkhas for NPR 700,000. Likewise, Shankar Rana, Narayan Joshi, and Sahil Patel were signed by Biratnagar Kings; Arjun Kumal by Pokhara Avengers; Bishal Patel and Durgesh Gupta by Lumbini Lions; Aditya Mehta and Bikash Agri by Janakpur Bolts; Bipin Rawal by Chitwan Rhinos; and Deepak Bohora and Milan Bohora by Far West Royals, each for NPR 500,000. Uttam Thapa Magar was signed by Kathmandu Gorkhas for NPR 300,000.

In the lower tier (C category), Tek Bahadur Rawat and Dipendra Thapa were signed by Far West Royals; Sandeep Kshetri, Abhishek Tiwari, and Krishna Poudel by Pokhara Avengers; Sachin Bhatt by Janakpur Bolts; Tul Bahadur Thapa by Kathmandu Gorkhas; Imran Sheikh and Deepak Dumre by Karnali Yaks; Adil Khan by Lumbini Lions; Shravan Kisku by Biratnagar Kings; and Bipin Acharya and Ranjit Kumar by Chitwan Rhinos. Each of these players was signed for NPR 200,000.

Out of 458 registered players, 150 were shortlisted for the mini auction held on Saturday. The base and maximum prices were set as follows:

Category A: NPR 1 million to NPR 1.5 million

Category B: NPR 500,000 to NPR 1 million

Category C: NPR 200,000 to NPR 500,000

With the auction completed, all eight teams now have 11 Nepali players each, totaling 88 local players. Each team is now expected to sign at least four foreign players.