The Birendra Memorial National League Cricket Tournament will start on December 11 at the TU Cricket Stadium, Kirtipur in Kathmandu, according to the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN).
The tournament, to be participated by six cricket development regions – Biratnagar, Birgunj, Kathmandu, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj and newly formed Baitadi, would have a final on December 26 between two top placed teams.
CAN has also formeed a 12-member organizing committee for the Gorkha Brewery Pvt Ltd sponsored tournament under chairmanship of CAN vice-president Shree Harsha Koirala.
The members of the committee include Amrit Shamsher Thapa, Basant Raj Satyal, Tarak Mani Dixit, Ashok Nath Pyakurel, Pradip Karki, Diwakar Ghale, Kiran Rana, Minal Pandey, Shyam Khetan, Mankaji Shakya and a representative from the sponsoring company.
The event is fourth edition of the national league and should have been held in 2005. But the event is scheduled earlier because to prepare the national team for the February’s World Cup Qualifying Series II in Malaysia. Nepal has to win the 12-nation event to play in the ICC Trophy 2005 in Ireland, the World Cup 2007 Qualifier.
Region No 1 Biratnagar has won all editions of the tournament winning only one final. The final in the first edition was cancelled due to rain and the winner was decided on the run rate while in the last edition, Biratnagar was crowned champion after Region No 4 Bhairahawa walked out due to foggy condition. IN 2003, Biratnagar defeated Region No 3 Kathmandu in the final.
Performance of each region in the Birendra Memorial National league
Team | Plyd | Won | Draw | Lost | No Result |
Biratnagar | 15 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Birgunj | 12 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
Kathmandu | 13 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 3 |
Bhairahawa | 14 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
Nepalgunj | 12 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 |
Baitadi is yet to play in senior Nat’l League. |