The fourth edition of the Richa Memorial Expert Sagarmatha League (ESL) is poised to begin on October 20 at the JC Donath Reserve in Victoria, Australia. This highly anticipated tournament will feature 16 teams vying for glory and substantial cash prizes.
Organized in memory of Richa Shrestha, this tournament honors her legacy as the wife of Bibek Shrestha, the former President of the Victorian Nepalese Cricket Association. Richa was also the daughter of the late Naresh Shrestha, former Vice President of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), and the sister of former national cricketers Manjeet Shrestha and Unil Shrestha. She passed away in 2019, and her contributions to the cricketing community continue to inspire many, making this league a meaningful tribute.
The participating teams are divided into two groups for the preliminary rounds.
Group A:
- Expert Sagarmatha Blues
- Chitwan Cricket Club
- Grace Gorkhali CC
- Gorkha Lions
- Trishuli Thunders
- Kathmandu Capitals
- Trigon Cricket Club
- Purbanchal Cricket Club
Group B:
- Sagarmatha Cricket Club
- Farwest Hunters
- Chitwan Maven CC
- Brighton Victoria CC
- VXL Royal Rhinos CC
- United Warriors CC
- The Himalayan Club
- The Rising Sun Sports Club
The tournament is supported by a number of sponsors and partners, including Expert Education & Visa Services Melbourne as the title sponsor. Other partners include Kathmandu Properties, Better Choice Mortgage & Finance, APB Partners, Aaru Creations, Your Dream Home Conveyancing, Buddha Travel & Tours, Indreni Glenroy Supermarket, Narayan Purohit Sewa, and Himali Fusion Restaurant.
The champion team will receive a cash prize of $4,000, while the runner-up will be awarded $2,000. As the ESL unfolds in Victoria, Australia, cricket enthusiasts in Nepal and around the world can expect a thrilling competition that celebrates the spirit of sportsmanship and honors the memory of Richa Shrestha.
