Karnali Yaks have signed Bangladesh batter Ariful Islam as an overseas player for the third edition of the Nepal Premier League. Ratopati reported that he is the third overseas player to join the franchise this season. The 21-year-old, who has no senior Bangladesh national-team cap, will be playing his first franchise tournament outside Bangladesh.

Karnali’s announcement described him as a young batter with experience in the U-19 World Cup, the Bangladesh Premier League, and the Top End T20 Series. His most recent form came in Australia. He scored 219 runs in seven matches for Bangladesh High Performance in the Top End T20 Series, including two half-centuries.

He joins a Bangladeshi pairing at the franchise. Wicketkeeper-batter Akbar Ali has also signed with Karnali for the tournament. Karnali’s cricket director is Gyanendra Malla, and Sompal Kami is the team’s captain.

Ariful’s availability is partly settled. Ariful told TIMES he holds a full-season no-objection certificate from the Bangladesh Cricket Board. Daily Sun’s account is less definite. It said the BCB had “reportedly” granted NOCs to the Bangladeshi players and that Ariful, Akbar, and Jishan Alam were expected to play the first three rounds of the National Cricket League before leaving for their franchises. The NPL overlaps with the NCL, so his arrival date in Kathmandu is not confirmed in the sources reviewed.

The NPL runs from 26 October to 21 November, with all matches at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Karnali’s league fixtures, per the tournament schedule:

Match Date Fixture Time (NPT)

3 27 Oct Karnali Yaks v Janakpur Bolts 4:30 PM

6 29 Oct Karnali Yaks v Biratnagar Kings 4:30 PM

10 2 Nov Kathmandu Gorkhas vs. Karnali Yaks 12:30 PM

16 6 Nov Sudurpaschim Royals v Karnali Yaks 12:30 PM

19 9 Nov Pokhara Avengers v Karnali Yaks 12:30 PM

23 12 Nov Karnali Yaks v Lumbini Lions 4:30 PM

27 15 Nov Chitwan Rhinos v Karnali Yaks 12:30 PM

Karnali finished sixth in the 2025 edition. Their opener against Janakpur Bolts on 27 October is the earliest date Ariful could appear, but his NCL commitments may affect that