Lalit Rajbanshi, a member of the Nepal National Cricket Team, is set to play in the Arjun Trophy National Cricket Tournament, which will be held in Dhangadhi. Lalit, who made a significant impact in the recently concluded Nepal Premier League (NPL), will be playing for DCA Dhangadhi in the tournament, which runs from Magh 19 to 28 (February 1 to 10).
Lalit, who took a record-breaking 17 wickets to help Janakpur Bolts win the NPL title, expressed his pride in playing for the cricket city of Dhangadhi. He also played a crucial role in the NPL final, where he helped prevent Sudurpashchim Royals from winning the title with his brilliant performance.
The tournament will kick off with a match at the Fapla International Cricket Ground on Magh 19, where Lalit, a key player for DCA Dhangadhi, will lead his team against prominent players such as Kushal Bhurtel, Binod Bhandari, and Sandeep Jora from the Friend’s Club of Doti. Spectators will be able to purchase tickets for the matches through the Khalti app, and digital wallet users will receive attractive gifts along with their tickets.
DCA Dhangadhi, with Lalit in their lineup, will play against Ghodeghodi-11 Sukhkhad on Magh 20 and Boston Cricket Jhapa on Magh 22. Lalit will be the main bowling weapon for his team in all the group-stage matches. Lalit had an outstanding performance in the recently concluded Jai Trophy, playing a key role in Nepal Police Club’s victory by taking 4 wickets in the final and a total of 23 wickets throughout the tournament. He was ranked second in the list of highest wicket-takers.
This year, the Arjun Trophy, which is now part of the Nepal Cricket Association’s annual calendar, is organized by Go Dreamers. All tickets for the tournament can be purchased through the Khalti app. For fans wishing to watch the games in person at the Fapla International Cricket Ground, the ticket prices are NPR 200 for VIP seats and NPR 100 for general seating. The matches will also be broadcast live on Action Sports HD 1 TV.
The Arjun Trophy, which honors the late Arjun Khadka, a key figure in cricket in Dhangadhi and the Sudurpashchim Province, will feature a cash prize pool of nearly NPR 2 million. The winner of the T20 format competition will receive NPR 1 million in cash, while the runner-up will get NPR 500,000. The tournament’s best player will be awarded NPR 100,000, and the best batsman, best bowler, and emerging player will each receive NPR 50,000. Every “Man of the Match” will receive NPR 10,000.
The tournament will feature eight teams from across the country. Each team is allowed to include four players from Category A (National Team players), five from Category B (players from the National Team A, U-19, and provincial senior teams), and the remaining players from Category C (U-16 National Team players, provincial U-19 and U-16 players, and other selected players).
The tournament is a tribute to the legacy of the late Arjun Khadka, who was a pillar of cricket in the region.
