PM Oli Felicitates Nepal Premier League Champions Janakpur Bolts

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli honored the players and managers of Janakpur Bolts, winners of the inaugural Nepal Premier League (NPL) Cricket Championship, at a program held today at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar.

Congratulating the team for their stellar performance, PM Oli commended their contribution to elevating the standard of Nepali cricket. He also acknowledged the efforts of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) and its officials in organizing the championship.

Janakpur Bolts clinched the NPL title with a five-wicket victory over Sudurpaschim Royals in the final match held at the Tribhuvan University cricket ground, Kirtipur, on Saturday.

The Prime Minister expressed his best wishes to the champions for achieving greater success in the future. “This victory is for all Nepalis and Nepali cricket. Your exceptional skills and determination have showcased the potential of Nepali players on the international stage,” he said. He also praised the runner-up team, Sudurpaschim Royals, for their commendable performance.

PM Oli highlighted his government’s commitment to sports development, recalling that his first decision as Prime Minister was to upgrade the Kirtipur cricket ground. He shared that a tender has already been called for the project, reiterating the government’s dedication to improving Nepal’s sports infrastructure.

During the event, CAN officials and sports managers raised concerns about bureaucratic hurdles, particularly regarding foreign players and investment. PM Oli assured them of the government’s commitment to simplifying processes and facilitating international collaboration to support cricket’s growth.

CAN President Chatur Bahadur Chand expressed gratitude for the government’s prioritization of cricket and urged for the removal of obstacles, such as the complex labor permit process for foreign players.

Janakpur Bolts captain Aasif Sheikh expressed delight at being felicitated by the Prime Minister, calling it a proud moment for the team and an inspiration to aim higher in the future.