KATHMANDU, Dec 2: The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) has decried the lack of its role in organizing the ongoing Nepal Premier League (NPL), accusing the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) of not coordinating with governmental bodies for the tournament.
Minister for Youth and Sports Teju Lal Chaudhary claimed that he has neither been informed about the details of the tournament nor been sent any official document regarding the organization of the tournament even after it started. The fan-frenzy first match of the franchise cricket tournament on Saturday saw Janakpur Bolts beat Biratnagar Kings by eight wickets with 27 balls remaining.
“I have not been informed about the subject of the NPL,” Minister Chaudhary told Republica, “The ministry has not been sent official information about the tournament by the CAN even after multiple requests.”
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He added that his role has been limited to inaugurating tournaments and attending matches as a chief guest. He further claimed that the ministry has not been informed about the salary structure or the source of payment for foreign players.
Officials from the MoYS explained that the only role that the ministry played for organizing the NPL was arranging the work permit for the foreign players participating in the tournament. Under Secretary at the Sports Association Coordination Section under the ministry Puroshottam Marahatta informed Republica that the MoYS made arrangements to facilitate foreign players with work permits.
“We recommended the Department of Immigration and the concerned labor office to provide work permits valid from November 30 through December 21 for the 40 players participating in the tournament,” Marahatta said, “CAN has not coordinated with us for anything else.”
However, officials from the CAN claimed that they have had ample communication with the MoYS through the National Sports Council (NSC). CAN Spokesperson Chhumbi Lama clarified that the cricket governing body is only answerable to the NSC which is chaired by Minister Chaudhary.
“CAN has followed the required procedure at every point,” Lama told Republica, “There is no communication gap; we have sent the official documents to the NSC, thereby eradicating the need to send the same documents to the ministry.”
Meanwhile, officials from the NSC claimed that while the council has not been adequately informed officially about the NPL, CAN is sufficiently equipped to organize the tournament on its own.
“We have not had enough official correspondence from the CAN,” spokesperson for the NSC Khusharaj Dahal told Republica, “Since the CAN has taken the responsibility to organize NPL on its own, we believe that they do not need much help from the ministry or the NSC.”
