NPL Season 3 2026: Schedule, Teams, Squads, Tickets, Live Streaming and Latest News
Complete NPL Season 3 guide with Nepal Premier League 2026 dates, team updates, retained players, overseas signings, captains, coaches, ticket booking, eSewa ticket partner, Himalaya TV broadcast and NetTV live streaming information.
Searches for NPL Season 3, NPL schedule, NPL live score, NPL live, NPL today match, NPL point table, NPL tickets and NPL live streaming are growing ahead of Nepal’s biggest franchise T20 competition.
The third edition of the Nepal Premier League is expected to build on the success of the first two seasons. The tournament will again bring together leading Nepali cricketers, overseas professionals, young domestic players, franchise teams, broadcasters and a large home-and-digital audience.
NPL Season 3: Quick Answer
Tournament: Nepal Premier League Season 3
Expected season: NPL 2026
Reported start date: October 26, 2026
Reported final date: November 21, 2026
Expected number of teams: 8
Organiser: Cricket Association of Nepal
Television broadcast partner: Himalaya Sports / Himalaya Television
OTT streaming partner: NetTV
Ticketing partner: eSewa, according to reported rights deal
Key overseas signing announced: Shakib Al Hasan for Pokhara Avengers
NPL Season 3 Schedule and Dates
NPL Season 3 is reported to begin on October 26, 2026 and run until November 21, 2026. The tournament is expected to feature eight franchise teams and follow the familiar Nepal Premier League T20 format.
A full fixture-by-fixture schedule, match order, first match, double-header timings, playoff dates and final start time should only be added after CAN or NPL publishes the official fixture list. Until then, do not publish unofficial “today match” information as confirmed.
NPL Season 3 expected opening date
Expected conclusion of the tournament
Eight regional and city-based cricket teams
Cricket Association of Nepal
NPL Season 3 Teams
NPL Season 3 is expected to retain the same eight franchises: Biratnagar Kings, Chitwan Rhinos, Janakpur Bolts, Karnali Yaks, Kathmandu Gorkhas, Lumbini Lions, Pokhara Avengers and Sudurpaschim Royals.
| NPL Team | Home Identity | Primary Team Colour | Season 3 Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biratnagar Kings | Eastern Nepal | Blue | Leadership, spin and overseas star power |
| Chitwan Rhinos | Chitwan | Orange and red | Young all-round core and balanced domestic unit |
| Janakpur Bolts | Madhesh / Janakpur | Blue | Rebuild around a title-winning franchise identity |
| Karnali Yaks | Karnali region | Gold and brown | Seam bowling, all-rounders and mountain-region pride |
| Kathmandu Gorkhas | Kathmandu Valley | Purple | Capital-city pressure, pace bowling and leadership |
| Lumbini Lions | Lumbini | Red | Defending champions and a strong domestic core |
| Pokhara Avengers | Pokhara | Blue and teal | Shakib Al Hasan signing and a new coaching direction |
| Sudurpaschim Royals | Far-western Nepal | Yellow and gold | Runner-up hunger, all-round strength and strong fan base |
Select a Team: Captains, Coaches and Squad Core
Choose a team below to view its currently reported leadership, theme colour, retained core, notable signings and Season 3 story. Player availability, overseas signings and final squads can change before the tournament, so final playing XIs should be confirmed when official squad lists are released.
Biratnagar Kings
Eastern pride, blue identity and a team expected to blend experience with attacking cricket.
Season 3 Team Outlook
Biratnagar Kings are expected to build around Sandeep Lamichhane’s leadership and wrist-spin. The key question will be whether their domestic batting core and overseas recruits can provide enough consistency through the league stage.
Players to watch: Sandeep Lamichhane, Lokesh Bam, Basir Ahamad and any confirmed overseas top-order signing.
Chitwan Rhinos
Orange-and-red Rhinos identity, built around youth, energy and all-round balance.
Season 3 Team Outlook
Chitwan Rhinos have a core that can be shaped around Kushal Malla’s all-round ability. Their success could depend on how well they convert young domestic potential into match-winning performances.
Players to watch: Kushal Malla, Bibek Kumar Yadav, Ranjeet Kumar, Dev Khanal and the team’s confirmed overseas players.
Janakpur Bolts
Blue lightning identity, former champions and a franchise with high expectations every season.
Season 3 Team Outlook
Janakpur Bolts won the inaugural NPL title and carry one of the strongest franchise identities in the league. Their Season 3 campaign will be judged by whether their batting leadership and experienced coaching can return them to the playoffs.
Players to watch: Anil Sah, Aasif Sheikh, Lalit Rajbanshi and other confirmed domestic or overseas match winners.
Karnali Yaks
Gold-and-brown mountain identity with emphasis on grit, seam bowling and all-round options.
Season 3 Team Outlook
Karnali Yaks can build their campaign around Sompal Kami’s new-ball experience and the versatility of Nepal’s emerging all-round players. Their success may depend on power-hitting depth and death-over bowling.
Players to watch: Sompal Kami, Gulshan Jha, Dev Khanal, Nandan Yadav and the final overseas contingent.
Kathmandu Gorkhas
Purple capital-city identity driven by pace, leadership and big-match pressure.
Season 3 Team Outlook
Kathmandu Gorkhas have the advantage of a high-profile captain in Karan KC and a coach with deep familiarity with Nepal cricket. Their balance between pace bowling, top-order batting and local support will define their season.
Players to watch: Karan KC, Bhim Sharki, Shahab Alam and key overseas signings once officially confirmed.
Lumbini Lions
Red Lions identity and defending NPL Season 2 champions.
Season 3 Team Outlook
Lumbini Lions begin Season 3 as defending champions after winning the 2025 final. Rohit Paudel’s captaincy, batting quality and ability to handle pressure make Lumbini one of the early title contenders.
Players to watch: Rohit Paudel, Arjun Saud, Sundeep Jora, Surya Tamang and the franchise’s confirmed overseas players.
Pokhara Avengers
Blue-and-teal lake-city identity with a major international signing for Season 3.
Season 3 Team Outlook
Pokhara Avengers have generated major attention by announcing Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. The franchise also appointed former Sri Lanka international Ajantha Mendis as head coach, creating one of the most talked-about overseas combinations in the league.
Players to watch: Shakib Al Hasan, Kushal Bhurtel, Sagar Dhakal, Akash Chand and the rest of the confirmed Pokhara squad.
Sudurpaschim Royals
Yellow-and-gold far-western identity, strong fan backing and a runner-up mission.
Season 3 Team Outlook
Sudurpaschim Royals enter Season 3 seeking to go one step further after reaching the NPL Season 2 final. Dipendra Singh Airee gives the team elite all-round quality, while reported overseas re-signings could strengthen their title challenge.
Players to watch: Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Abinash Bohara, Scott Kuggeleijn and Saif Zaib, subject to final confirmation.
NPL Season 3 Retained Players and Auction Update
All eight franchises announced retained players before the Season 3 auction process. Published reports stated that 52 players were retained across the teams, indicating that franchises have already established a large part of their domestic core.
Player retention is important because it helps franchises preserve successful combinations, captaincy groups and local fan connections. The auction then allows teams to fill gaps in batting, pace bowling, spin options, wicketkeeping and overseas-player slots.
Reported total retained across eight franchises
Every franchise announced a retained core
Used to complete domestic and overseas squads
Availability and replacements can alter team lists
Foreign Players and Big Signings
The biggest publicly reported overseas signing for NPL Season 3 is Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh all-rounder, who was announced by Pokhara Avengers. The signing significantly increases attention on the tournament because Shakib brings international experience with both bat and ball.
Pokhara Avengers also announced former Sri Lanka mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis as head coach. That combination of Shakib and Mendis has made Pokhara one of the most discussed franchises before the tournament begins.
Sudurpaschim Royals were also reported to have re-signed overseas players including Scott Kuggeleijn and Saif Zaib. However, all overseas participation should be reconfirmed closer to match day because player schedules can change.
| Franchise | Reported Major Overseas Development | Why It Matters | Confirmation Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pokhara Avengers | Shakib Al Hasan signed as player; Ajantha Mendis signed as coach | International all-round quality and high-profile coaching | Announced by the franchise |
| Sudurpaschim Royals | Scott Kuggeleijn and Saif Zaib reported as overseas selections | Strengthens pace, all-round and middle-order options | Reconfirm before tournament |
| Other teams | Foreign-player recruitment expected across franchises | Overseas availability can influence title chances | Await official team announcements |
NPL Season 3 Live Streaming and TV Broadcast
NPL Season 3 is expected to have a larger broadcast reach. Reported rights results state that Himalaya Sports / Himalaya Television secured television broadcast rights, while NetTV secured over-the-top streaming rights.
For viewers in Nepal, Himalaya Sports is expected to be the primary television destination, while NetTV is expected to provide the OTT option for online viewing. App availability, subscription requirements, mobile access, international rights and exact match streams should be checked through the official broadcaster announcements before the tournament starts.
Watch on TV
Himalaya Sports / Himalaya Television reportedly secured the NPL Season 3 television broadcast rights in Nepal.
Check Himalaya TVWatch Online
NetTV reportedly secured the OTT streaming rights. Check the NetTV app or official platform for plan and access information.
Check NetTVOfficial Updates
Check CAN and verified NPL channels for match start times, broadcaster details, schedule changes and official live-score links.
Check CAN UpdatesNPL Tickets, eSewa Booking and Stadium Entry
Ticketing is another major NPL search topic. Reported rights information says that eSewa secured NPL Season 3 ticketing rights. This means fans should expect official ticket booking information to be announced through eSewa, CAN and NPL channels.
At the time of this update, do not claim a confirmed ticket sale date, seat category, ticket price or gate opening time unless it is published by eSewa or CAN. Season 3 ticket booking may use digital QR tickets, but users should wait for the official announcement before making any payment.
| Ticket Information | Latest Status |
|---|---|
| Reported ticketing partner | eSewa |
| Where to check for tickets | eSewa app, eSewa official website, CAN and official NPL channels |
| Ticket sale date | Await official announcement |
| Ticket prices | Await official announcement |
| Seating categories | Await official stadium and ticketing announcement |
| Ticket format | Follow the format stated by the official ticketing partner |
When official ticket sales open, create a separate article or landing page targeting these high-intent keywords: NPL ticket booking, NPL ticket eSewa, eSewa NPL ticket, NPL ticket price and NPL tickets 2026.
NPL Live Score, Today Match and Point Table
During the tournament, the highest traffic will likely come from searches such as NPL live score, NPL live, NPL today match, today NPL match, NPL score, NPL match today and NPL point table.
This article is an evergreen Season 3 guide. For traffic and user experience, create separate live pages before October 26. Those pages should update automatically or be manually updated after every match.
| Recommended Page | Main Keyword | What to Update |
|---|---|---|
| /npl-live-score | NPL live score | Live score, scorecard, toss, playing XI, result |
| /npl-today-match | NPL today match | Today’s match, time, venue, squads and where to watch |
| /npl-schedule-2026 | NPL schedule | All fixtures, match dates, timings and playoffs |
| /npl-point-table | NPL point table | Matches, wins, losses, net run rate and points |
| /npl-teams-and-squads | NPL teams and squads | Final squads, captains, coaches and player profiles |
NPL Season 3 Players to Watch
NPL Season 3 could feature a mix of Nepal’s leading national-team cricketers, emerging domestic talent and recognised international players. The final player list depends on official squad announcements and availability, but the following names are likely to draw major attention.
| Player | Team Connection | Why Fans Will Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Rohit Paudel | Lumbini Lions | Defending-champion captain and Nepal’s leading batting figure |
| Dipendra Singh Airee | Sudurpaschim Royals | Elite all-round ability, finishing and match-winning potential |
| Sandeep Lamichhane | Biratnagar Kings | Wrist-spin, leadership and wicket-taking threat |
| Karan KC | Kathmandu Gorkhas | Fast bowling, late hitting and leadership experience |
| Kushal Malla | Chitwan Rhinos | Powerful left-handed batting and all-round potential |
| Kushal Bhurtel | Pokhara Avengers | Top-order aggression and a key Nepal batting name |
| Sompal Kami | Karnali Yaks | New-ball swing, lower-order power and experience |
| Shakib Al Hasan | Pokhara Avengers | High-profile international all-rounder signing, subject to availability |
NPL Season 3 Rumours, Expectations and What Is Not Confirmed
Pre-season NPL discussion includes transfer rumours, foreign-player names, potential technology upgrades, venue preparation and expectations of a bigger broadcast product. Such reports can generate interest, but they should be clearly separated from confirmed news.
What Fans Expect From NPL Season 3
- More high-profile overseas players after Shakib Al Hasan’s reported Pokhara signing.
- Better television production and online streaming because of new broadcast and OTT rights deals.
- Higher demand for tickets, especially for weekend and playoff matches.
- Stronger competition from defending champions Lumbini Lions and runner-up Sudurpaschim Royals.
- More pressure on franchises to improve squad depth after retaining key domestic players.
- Heavy social-media attention around player signings, captaincy and foreign-player availability.
What Happened in NPL Season 2?
NPL Season 2 was played from November 17 to December 13, 2025. Lumbini Lions won the tournament after defeating Sudurpaschim Royals by six wickets in the final at TU International Cricket Stadium, Kirtipur.
| NPL Season 2 Detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Champion | Lumbini Lions |
| Runner-up | Sudurpaschim Royals |
| Final result | Lumbini Lions won by 6 wickets |
| Venue | TU International Cricket Stadium, Kirtipur |
| Defending champions for Season 3 | Lumbini Lions |
NPL Season 3 Frequently Asked Questions
When will NPL Season 3 start?
NPL Season 3 is reported to start on October 26, 2026. Check CAN and official NPL channels for the final confirmed fixture schedule.
When is the NPL Season 3 final?
The tournament is reported to conclude on November 21, 2026. The official final match timing should be confirmed after the complete schedule is released.
How many teams will play NPL Season 3?
Eight teams are expected to play: Biratnagar Kings, Chitwan Rhinos, Janakpur Bolts, Karnali Yaks, Kathmandu Gorkhas, Lumbini Lions, Pokhara Avengers and Sudurpaschim Royals.
Where can I watch NPL Season 3 live?
Himalaya Sports or Himalaya Television reportedly secured TV broadcast rights, while NetTV reportedly secured OTT streaming rights. Confirm the final viewing method and subscription requirements before the season starts.
Where can I watch NPL live online?
NetTV reportedly secured NPL Season 3 OTT rights. Check the official NetTV platform and NPL announcements for final live-stream access.
How can I buy NPL Season 3 tickets?
eSewa reportedly secured ticketing rights. Check the official eSewa app, eSewa website, CAN and NPL social-media pages for ticket sale announcements, prices and booking instructions.
Are NPL ticket prices announced?
Ticket prices, seating categories and the booking opening date should be treated as unconfirmed until officially announced by eSewa or CAN.
Who is the defending champion in NPL Season 3?
Lumbini Lions enter NPL Season 3 as defending champions after winning NPL Season 2 in 2025.
Which team signed Shakib Al Hasan for NPL Season 3?
Pokhara Avengers announced the signing of Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan for NPL Season 3, subject to final player availability.
Who will coach Pokhara Avengers in NPL Season 3?
Pokhara Avengers announced former Sri Lanka international Ajantha Mendis as head coach.
What is the NPL point table?
The NPL point table shows each team’s matches played, wins, losses, points and net run rate. It determines which teams progress to the playoffs.
Where can I find NPL live score and today match details?
During the tournament, use official NPL and CAN channels, the authorised broadcaster, NetTV and established live-score services. A separate live-score page is better than relying on an evergreen pre-season article.
Final NPL Season 3 Update
NPL Season 3 has the potential to become the biggest Nepal Premier League edition yet. The reported October 26 to November 21 window, eight-team format, 52 retained players, high-profile overseas recruitment and new media-rights arrangements have already created substantial interest.
Lumbini Lions will enter as defending champions, Sudurpaschim Royals will aim to go one step further after their Season 2 final defeat, and Pokhara Avengers will attract attention following Shakib Al Hasan’s signing and Ajantha Mendis’s appointment.
For NPL live score, NPL today match, updated fixtures, points table and match results during the tournament, follow the Tikajoshi Live Sports section. You can also explore more Nepal cricket updates and sports explainers on the Tikajoshi Blog.
