When Cricket Association was under suspension and we lacked proper board to handle the cricket over the country, it was almost a must needed factor that we too need some domestic tournament to professionalize the cricket over the country and Everest Premier League (EPL) came out as a blessing for the cricket development in the country. The existent tournament SPA cup and DCL combined for a Dhangadi Premier league, another private sponsored mega cricketing event in the country. This was another milestone for cricket in the country. Pokhara Premier League had a promising first season and added fuel to the competition this has been a healthy and beneficial competition so far and we gotta say they have been the food at the starvation and we should be very thankful that they happened, that too when we were needing them most. No doubt we should be very grateful to Amir Akhtar, Subash Shahi and Chumbi Lama, The managers of these three mega events and their companions, for what they have done in small cricketing nation for branding, professionalization and expansion of attraction of the game.
The news coming this year is bigger, the global superstars like Chris Gayle, Hashim Amla, Thisara Parera, Dwane Smith, Liam Plunkett etc. has been confirmed to play the mega event this year. Well this has been the greatest news in the history of Nepali Professional Sports if there was any. Also the investment of global organization like UNDP and a globally one of the top reputed broadcasting company Discovery, will add up to the grand success of the tournament in case of proper management and yes proper pitches, perhaps some quick surfaces.
Well taking the management sides apart what I want to talk about today is quite different and perhaps of the unpopular opinions. Although the leagues are doing all great and they have been contributing a lot in the professionalization and increasing attraction to the game, with the cricket association back in charge, it is perhaps the time to think about the existence of these leagues. Well this might sound a bit radical move but as Bhupi Sherchan rightly said ,"Hudaina Vihana mirmira ma taaraa jharera nagaye." To start something new we need to have end of something and sometimes it is extremely essential. And perhaps it is time to have all leagues collapsed and start a Grand and new league of the country managed by the Cricket Association itself with proper management and efficient administration.
Why reduce that to one when you are having multiple of those?
Well one league might sound a small thing but eight (or even six) teams with double round robin league will be grand with all those investments getting centralized will have bigger players coming in and will effectively increase the international attention which will enhance the income of the cricket association and eventually Cricket Association can be rich and powerful. This will increase the domestic investment helping cricket getting develop and effectively having stronger league every year, which will also increase the international presence of the board.
Just look at where BCCI was before IPL and now it is the regulator of world cricket. The stronger and richer cricket board will help cricket grow than ever and dominance will increase. Also the investment will increase the strength of domestic cricket, while the three leagues would have the opposite effect, neither board will be able to gain the revenue as the leagues are doing, instead the time when you can have longer formats will be lost in t20s which won't be as effective as multi-dayers or limited-overs to have a sustainable cricket development.
Are the grounds sufficient for home and away?
Well, yes the grounds are sufficient, it might create some problems in the beginning but will eventually get sorted out with time. We have the Fapla, Pokhara, and TU-Kirtipur already hosting the games, Mulpani can be made to host the high-level tournaments and is fit for it, Biratnagar, Birgunj have been unused for high-level tournaments but used to host and can be made. Itahari is being used for the MM cup, we are having Lord Buddha CG and a few others being built and it will be more than enough it will at least be better than hosting a 20-day tournament on the same ground by a far fair margin.
What about the existent leagues and the organizers?
Well, we need an end to start, the organizers can contribute shares in the new tournament or even have teams. The same goes for the team owners, More collective efforts of team owners, richer will be the team and stronger will be the league. But the private leagues need to be stopped at the higher level, else the leagues will keep increasing, they will definitely earn but still "anything might be better than nothing, but that's not the way when you have a better option available."
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