Think Beyond Franchises

The Nepal Premier League (NPL), a cricket tournament, has become an event around which people schedule their vacations. The third edition of NPL, which is being played during the holiday period of Dashain-Tihar, prompts a legitimate question about whether the league can be seen as a representation of the whole country if all its matches are played in one ground. The NPL teams bear the names of different regions of the country, such as Janakpur, Chitwan, Karnali, Sudurpaschim, Pokhara and Lumbini. However, despite the fact that there are many regions represented in the league, all 32 matches of the present edition are to be played on the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. It is convenient for the organisers, but the fans do not have a chance to watch the matches in their own regions.