NPL Champion Left Empty Handed: No Prize Money Yet

NPL Champion Left Empty Handed: No Prize Money Yet

According to a report by Ukerra, despite three months passing since the conclusion of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has not yet provided the prize money to the winning team.

The NPL was organized by CAN from November 15 to December 6. The association had previously announced prize money for teams finishing in the top four positions, including Rs. 1.1 million for the first-place team,

Janakpur Bolts, Rs. 510,000 for the second-place Sudurpashchim Royals, Rs. 250,000 for the third-place Karnali Yaks, and Rs. 150,000 for the fourth-place Chitwan Rhinos. However, none of the teams have received their prize money so far.

When asked about the delay, CAN spokesperson Chumbi Lama claimed that the prize money would be made available within the next month. “We have discussed this in board meetings. Two meetings have already been held. Some teams haven’t paid their dues, which is why the payments have been delayed. All payments will be made within the next month,” Lama said.

Karnali Yaks’ co-owner, Grihendra Ghimire, stated that despite paying all the required amounts to CAN, they have not received the prize money. “They might be working on it, but we haven’t received the money from CAN,” Ghimire said.

Franchise Teams Still Await Income and Expense Details

According to the agreement between CAN and the eight franchise teams participating in the league, the teams were supposed to receive 50% of the revenue generated from advertisements and ticket sales.

The franchise teams had purchased their team slots for significant amounts: Pokhara Avengers for Rs. 35.7 million, Kathmandu for Rs. 33.3 million, Janakpur for Rs. 20.5 million, Lumbini for Rs. 18.6 million, Chitwan for Rs. 17.6 million, Sudurpashchim for Rs. 16.9 million, Biratnagar for Rs. 15.1 million, and Karnali Yaks for Rs. 11.1 million.

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While this amount does not need to be distributed to the teams, the agreement clearly states that 50% of the other league revenues should be shared between CAN and the eight teams.

However, to date, CAN has not provided the franchise teams with details regarding the total income and expenses generated by the league. In March, the NPL organizing committee had promised to provide the revenue and expenditure details along with payments, but no such information has been shared yet.

One team member informally reported that Paras Khadka, the head of the organizing committee, claimed that one team was expected to receive up to Rs. 10 million.

Investigation into NPL’s Financial Operations

In response to allegations of illegal activities in the NPL, the National Sports Council (NSC) has formed an investigative committee.

The committee, led by NSC member Anjan Dhakal, was established on March 20 to investigate the illegal entry of foreign companies into Nepal, opaque financial dealings, and other questionable practices. The committee, which also includes Sarangi Niraula and Kamal Dahal, has been given 15 days to complete the investigation.

Uncertainty Surrounds NPL’s Second Season

The first season of the NPL was marred by various controversies, including opaque dealings, illegal contracts with foreign companies, and the involvement of online gambling advertisements. Despite these issues, the first season was completed. However, due to ongoing legal disputes, the second season remains uncertain.

A case regarding the name of the NPL is currently under review at the Kathmandu District Court, and the court has issued an interim order preventing CAN from taking any actions that would violate the contract with Jora Sports Entertainment. As long as the case remains unresolved, CAN cannot start the second season of NPL.

CAN’s Revenue and Expenses Remain Unclear

CAN has not publicly disclosed the exact revenue or expenses incurred during the organization of the NPL. However, some financial figures related to the league’s operation have been made available.

CAN reportedly raised Rs. 168.8 million from the sale of franchise slots and Rs. 59.2 million from commercial rights sold to Brand Logic.

While CAN entered into a sponsorship deal with Siddhartha Bank, the exact amount has not been revealed. CAN President Chaturbahadur Chand had claimed that a contract worth Rs. 30 million was signed during the league’s operation.

CAN also earned significant revenue from ticket sales, with an estimated 135,000 spectators attending the competition. The organization claimed that ticket sales alone generated around Rs. 40 million. Additionally, the live broadcast on YouTube and Action Sports, as well as revenue from fan codes and OTT platforms, contributed to the income.

Though CAN spent money on infrastructure at the Tribhuvan Cricket Ground and paid for the broadcasting rights with Star Sports, the exact expenses have not been made public. Investigations have revealed that CAN made an illegal payment of USD 92,500 to TCM, a Dubai-based company, for management services.

Despite two board meetings being held, no clear information regarding income and expenses has been shared. When asked about the details, spokesperson Chumbi Lama refused to provide any specific information, stating, “How can I give such details? It’s not permissible to share that.”

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