Foreign players who want to play in the third Nepal Premier League (NPL) will have to clear more hurdles than before.
The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has announced tighter eligibility and anti-corruption conditions, which it links to the approval of this year’s edition by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
CAN Secretary Paras Khadka announced the rules at a press conference at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on October 17.
They cover overseas-player paperwork, participation in unapproved competitions and steps against match-fixing and spot-fixing.
Clearance from home boards
Every foreign player must obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the cricket board of the country he represents. That includes players who have retired from international cricket. An NOC is formal permission from a governing body to take part in a competition.
A second condition looks back six months. A player who took part in a competition not approved by the ICC or the relevant national board in the six months before the NPL begins will be ineligible.
This is narrower than it may sound. The rule targets unapproved cricket. It does not automatically bar someone because he played in another domestic or franchise league. Whether a given competition counts as approved will decide each case.
Bigger squads, same playing XI
Each franchise may now register six to eight foreign players. In the two earlier editions the maximum was six.
The playing eleven does not change. Every team must field seven Nepali players and four foreign players in each match. Franchises get more choice in building squads, while Nepali players keep a fixed place in the starting side.
Anti-corruption measures
CAN says the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit’s rules will be strictly enforced throughout the tournament to deal with match-fixing, spot-fixing and other corruption. The requirements also reach franchise owners and other people connected with the competition. Nepal’s existing laws and the ICC’s anti-corruption code will apply, according to the announcement.
Match-fixing means manipulating the result or course of a match. Spot-fixing means manipulating a particular event inside a game. Both damage the integrity of sport and public trust.
Review and DRS
CAN must submit a review report within 60 days after the third edition ends. This is tied to the oversight conditions of the ICC approval.
Organisers are also preparing the Decision Review System (DRS), which lets certain on-field decisions be checked with technology.
Why rules like these exist
Franchise leagues bring in players from many countries and attract betting interest, so governing bodies ask for clearance and anti-corruption controls. The practical effect in Nepal will depend on how consistently CAN carries out eligibility checks and monitoring.
