52 players retained by teams for NPL Season 3

The Nepal Premier League (NPL) is gearing up for its third season, with all eight franchises having completed a significant preparatory step: retaining 52 players. The official announcement of the auction for the upcoming season was made on June 10, though specific details like the auction date, player price cap, foreign-player policy, and tournament schedule remain undisclosed.

Defending champions Lumbini Lions have secured seven players, including their marquee player and skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel. Sher Malla, who earned the emerging player award last season, has also been retained. The team's batting order will be bolstered by the retention of Dilip Nath and Sundeep Jora, while bowlers like Abhisesh Gautam and Tilak Bhandari have also been kept.

Sudurpashchim Royals, who have been runners-up for the past two seasons, have retained seven players, signaling their intent to remain strong contenders. The team will again be led by Dipendra Singh Airee, a prominent T20I all-rounder and captain of Nepal's T20 team. He will be supported by experienced players like wicketkeeper-batsman Binod Bhandari and consistent performers Aarif Sheikh and Ishan Pandey. The bowling attack will see continuity with Abinash Bohara, Hemant Dhami, and Hikmat Mahara.

Biratnagar Kings, known for attracting international stars like Faf du Plessis and Martin Guptill in the previous season, also retained domestic talent, notably spinner Sandeep Lamichhane. The retention process sets the stage for the upcoming auction, with teams aiming to build competitive squads for NPL Season 3.