Krish Karki has been selected as the Local Iconic Player for the Kathmandu Gurkhas in the upcoming Siddhartha Bank Nepal Premier League (NPL), set to begin on November 30 (Mangsir 15).
Karki secured his spot during the final selection held at the One Day Cricket Academy, Kadaghari on Saturday.
The Kathmandu Gurkhas had conducted preliminary trials at Cricket Excellence Center (CEC), Baluwatar, CEC, Bhaktapur, and Great Himalaya Cricket Academy, Lalitpur, over three days. Nearly 500 players registered for the trials, with 32 players advancing to the final selection. Among them, Karki impressed as the best performer to claim a place in the Kathmandu Gurkhas squad.
NPL Regulations
As per NPL rules, every team must include at least one player from their respective region. Following this regulation, Krish Karki was chosen as the local representative for the Kathmandu Gurkhas.
The Kathmandu Gurkhas also scouted six additional players—Bipin Neupane, Asim Shrestha, Atharva Paudel, Shardul Bhatt, Rajendra Bam, and Kamal Gupta—during their talent hunt program. These players will train alongside the main squad and will receive an encouragement allowance of NPR 25,000 each, according to head coach Basant Shahi Thakuri.
Kathmandu Gurkhas Squad Overview
The team’s Marquee Player is Karan KC, while the squad includes prominent players such as Shahab Alam, Bhim Sharki, Rashid Khan, Shankar Rana, Krishna Karki, Dipesh Prasad Kandel, Sumit Maharjan, Bibek KC, Pratik Shrestha, and Raju Rizal.
The franchise has also bolstered its lineup with four international signings:
- Michael Levitt (Netherlands)
- Gerhard Erasmus (Namibia captain)
- Stevie Sean Eskinazi (England)
- Dan Douthwaite (England)
The team is owned by Kathmandu Sports Development Venture.
Head Coach
Basant Shahi Thakuri, a former Nepalese cricketer, leads the team as the head coach.
The Kathmandu Gurkhas are poised for an exciting campaign in the inaugural Siddhartha Bank NPL, blending regional talent with international expertise to compete for the prestigious title.
