Karnali Yaks: Aiming for the Final in NPL 2025

Published · By Kushma Thapa

The Karnali Yaks, representing the Surkhet region of Karnali Province, are entering the NPL 2025 season with heightened expectations after a strong playoff run in the inaugural year.

2024 Performance: Playoff Dark Horse

The Yaks finished the NPL 2024 league stage in 4th place, securing the final playoff spot. Their campaign included a thrilling Eliminator victory against the Chitwan Rhinos, demonstrating their clutch performance capability. Their journey ultimately ended in Qualifier 2, where they lost to the Janakpur Bolts. This season, they are focused on going one step further and reaching the Grand Final.

2025 Squad Composition: International Reinforcements

The franchise, owned by Janak Dutta Khanal (Himalayan Builders) and Grihenda Ghimire, secured their 2025 roster with an auction bid of रू1.11 crore (US$83,000). They have maintained their core group of national players while bringing in high-calibre foreign specialists.

Key Player Movements

  • Players Retained (8):

    • Sompal Kami (Marquee/Captain), Gulshan Jha, Nandan Yadav, Arjun Gharti Bitalu, Dipendra Rawat, Dipak Dumre, Unish Bikram Singh, Bipin Prasad Sharma

  • New Local (Nepali) Players (4):

    • Pawan Sarraf, Yuvraj Khatri, Imran Sheikh, Manish Thapa

  • New Foreign Players (4):

    • Mark Watt (SCO), Maxwell Patrick O'Dowd (NED), Najibullah Zadran (AFG), Priyank Panchal (IND)

  • Retained Foreign Player:

    • William Giles Bosisto (AUS) was retained, providing continuity in the all-rounder role.

International Star Power

The 2025 squad features exciting new international signings, specializing in various key roles:

  • Najibullah Zadran (Afghanistan): A hard-hitting middle-order batter known for his powerful finishing ability.

  • Maxwell Patrick O'Dowd (Netherlands): An aggressive top-order batter providing rapid starts.

  • Mark Watt (Scotland): A tricky left-arm orthodox spinner adding control and variety to the bowling attack.

  • Priyank Panchal (India) & Jai Kishan Kolsawala (India): Experienced batters/wicketkeeper-batters from the Indian domestic circuit.

Leadership and Home Base

The Karnali Yaks are the team representing the Surkhet region of Karnali Province.

Their home ground is the Kalinchowk Cricket Ground.

Key information about the team:

  • Captain/Skipper: The team is led by Marquee Player and veteran all-rounder, Sompal Kami.

  • Head Coach: For 2025, the team is coached by the highly respected national team legend, Gyanendra Malla.

  • Debut Season: The team made its Nepal Premier League (NPL) debut in 2024.

Roster and Schedule Information

With a successful playoff run last year and a reinforced international contingent this year, the Karnali Yaks are a major title contender in NPL 2025.

For the latest updates on the full squad roster and match details, including upcoming fixtures: