Nepali national cricket team opener, Kushal Bhurtel, is set to play for Friend’s Club of Doti in the Arjun Trophy National Cricket Tournament, which will be held in Danghadi, the cricket hub of Nepal, from February 1 to February 10 (Magh 19 to Magh 28). Kushal, a member of the Nepal national team, has confirmed his participation in the tournament representing Friend’s Club of Doti.
The tournament will kick off with an opening match on February 1 at the Fapla International Cricket Ground, where Friend’s Club Doti will play against DCI Danghadi, with Kushal Bhurtel leading his team as a key player. Organizers have announced that tickets for watching the matches live can be purchased through the Khalti app. The app allows fans to buy tickets and offers exciting gifts equivalent to the ticket price for ticket holders.
Friend’s Club Doti, including Kushal Bhurtel, will also play against Boston Cricket Club Jhapa on February 3 and against Ghodaghodi-11 Sukhkhad on February 6. Kushal will be the standout player, known for his exceptional performances in the league matches. Recently, he impressed with an excellent performance in the Jai Trophy, leading the Nepal Police Club to victory, including scoring a half-century.
Kushal Bhurtel has scored five half-centuries in international T20 matches and has accumulated over 500 runs. He has also surpassed 1,000 runs in international One Day Cricket. During the recently concluded Nepal Premier League (NPL), Kushal captained Pokhara Avengers as the marquee player.
This year’s Arjun Trophy, which is part of the Nepal Cricket Association’s annual calendar, is organized by Go Dreamers. Fans can buy tickets for all matches through the Khalti app. The ticket prices for Fapla International Cricket Ground are set at 200 NPR for VIP and 100 NPR for general admission.
The Arjun Trophy is being held in memory of the late Arjun Khadka, a pioneer of cricket in Danghadi and the Sudurpashchim Province. The tournament will feature a cash prize of nearly 2 million NPR. The winner of the T20 format competition will receive 1 million NPR, while the runner-up will earn 500,000 NPR, along with a trophy. The tournament’s best player will be awarded 100,000 NPR, while the best batsman, best bowler, and emerging player will each receive 50,000 NPR. The man of the match for each game will receive 10,000 NPR.
A total of eight teams from across the country will participate in the tournament. Each team can include 14 players, with four players from Category A, five from Category B, and the rest from Category C. Category A includes Nepal national team players, while Category B features players from the Nepal National A Team, U-19 national team, and senior provincial players. Category C consists of U-16 national team players, U-19 and U-16 provincial players, and other athletes.
