The NPL season 3 of the Nepal Premier League begins on Monday, October 26, at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. It is the first NPL edition whose matches count towards official career records, after the ICC sanctioned the tournament earlier this month. Defending champions Lumbini Lions open against Sudurpaschim Royals, the losing finalists in both previous seasons.

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) announced the ICC sanction in a press release on Friday, October 16. CAN Secretary Paras Khadka told the Kathmandu Post it was “a major achievement for Nepali cricket.” Performances in the first two seasons were not recorded in official statistics.

What the ICC sanction changes

Khadka said the sanction covers only the third edition, according to Rising Nepal. It comes with conditions:

• Franchises may register up to eight overseas players, up from the four to six allowed in the first two seasons. Four overseas players can feature in the XI alongside seven Nepalis, the Kathmandu Post reported. Khadka said CAN had asked the ICC for permission to sign six to eight players and that the request was granted.
• Overseas players, including those retired from international cricket, need a no-objection certificate from their home boards.
• Players who took part in “disapproved” cricket within the previous six months are ineligible.
• ICC anti-corruption rules apply throughout the tournament.
• CAN must file a review report within sixty days of the final.

DRS makes its NPL debut

CAN confirmed on October 20 that the Decision Review System will be used in the league. Teams will be able to challenge on-field decisions, with reviews covering LBW, run-outs, stumpings, and no-balls. CAN says LBW reviews will use 3D ball-tracking, and edge detection will be AI-based. The system will also measure the distance and height of sixes.

Khadka put the cost at up to Rs 20 million, shared between the NPL and its eight franchises, the Kathmandu Post reported. Umpire Devendra Subedi told the paper that Nepali umpires were correct more than 90 percent of the time without DRS. He added that the technology should push accuracy higher but will add cost and possibly time to matches.

Overseas signings

Franchises have spent the build-up announcing overseas players. These are the signings reported by the Kathmandu Post as of October 25. The list may not be complete.

Sudurpaschim also re-signed Kuggeleijn, who played for the franchise in both previous seasons. Neesham, now with the Bolts, scored 247 runs in nine matches in the inaugural season at a tournament-high strike rate of around 196, according to the Post.

Lumbini Lions vs Sudurpaschim Royals NPL Season 3 1st Match 2026

Schedule and format

The tournament runs from October 26 to November 21 at a single venue, with a 27-day fixture list of 21 league matches and four playoff games, according to the Post’s report on CAN’s fixture list.

The top four teams after the league stage advance to the playoffs. CAN announced a revised timetable on October 21. On double-header days the first match starts at 12:30pm and the second at 5pm. On single-match days, play starts at 5pm, according to The Himalayan Times.

After the opener, the league phase moves straight into the October 27 double-header. The ICC sanction and the DRS rollout will be tested from the first ball on Monday. Results and standings will be available on the NPL 2026 points table and results pages once play begins.