KATHMANDU: Pakistani cricketer Sahibzada Farhan, who arrived in Nepal to play for the Karnali Yaks in the Nepal Premier League (NPL), is set to return to Pakistan after being called up to the national team.
The Karnali Yaks announced that Farhan has been selected for Pakistan’s One Day International (ODI) match against Sri Lanka.
According to Grihendra Ghimire, Director of the Karnali Yaks, Farhan may return to the NPL after the national team’s match concludes on October 31. In the meantime, the franchise is preparing to bring in a replacement player.
Ghimire said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had requested an additional USD 25,000 to issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for Pakistani players who had arrived in Nepal to participate in the NPL. He expressed dissatisfaction with the demand, saying it was made only after the players had arrived in Nepal with their NOCs.
“Our objective in bringing Pakistani players to the NPL is not just to watch them play, but also to invest in the development of Nepali cricket. Nepali cricket is currently in a developmental phase. Under these circumstances, we are disappointed by this last-minute demand for additional funds,” Ghimire said.
He added that the Karnali Yaks had been considering paying the additional amount to ensure the players could participate in the tournament. However, Farhan’s call-up to the national team means he must return to Pakistan. Ghimire said the franchise expects him to rejoin the team after the match on October 31.
Ghimire clarified that the franchise does not consider the issue a reason to damage relations with Pakistan. He emphasized that Pakistani players would continue to be important to the NPL in the future and called for a solution that would preserve good relations between the two sides.
Besides Farhan, the Karnali Yaks have also signed Pakistani cricketer Hussain Talat. With Farhan temporarily leaving the squad, the franchise is preparing to recruit a replacement for the interim period.
Ghimire said the participation of international players in the NPL is intended to raise the standard and popularity of Nepali cricket. He expressed disappointment that the issue had emerged just as the tournament was about to begin.