Title holders Janakpur Bolts reveal retention for NPL 2

By Cricketing Country | Posted Posted Jul 03, 2025

Defending Nepal Premier League champions Janakpur Bolts have announced their player retention for the second edition of the tournament, headlined by marquee player Asif Sheikh, captain Anil Sah, and left-arm spinner Lalit Rajbanshi — all three listed as Grade A players.

The franchise has also retained pacer Kishore Mahato, who finished as joint second-highest wicket-taker in the first season with 14 wickets from 10 matches.

Allrounder Rupesh Singh also makes the list, returning to the squad after missing the inaugural edition due to injury. Rupesh recently made his senior debut for Nepal in the Scotland T20I Tri-Series and impressed with an unbeaten 43 in the final match of the series.

Middle-order batsmen Shubh Kansakar, who has been in red-hot domestic form with over 800 runs since the first NPL — including seven fifties and a hundred — has also been retained. Shubh was also part of the national team’s core camp ahead of the Scotland tour.

In a surprise move, Janakpur have backed Tul Bahadur Thapa Magar over Sher Malla. Tul featured in only three games last season and bowled just two wicketless overs, but his rare left-arm leg-spin variation might have influenced the decision.

Janakpur have released Sher Malla, Akash Tripathi, Hemant Dhami, Arniko Yadav, Mayan Yadav, and Vishal Sushling ahead of the mini auction.

Retained Players: Asif Sheikh, Anil Sah, Lalit Rajbanshi, Kishore Mahato, Rupesh Singh, Shubh Kansakar, and Tul Bahadur Thapa Magar.