Top five players to look for in the NPL auction

The auction for the second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) is scheduled for August as per the Cricket Association of Nepal's (CAN) annual calendar, where eight franchises will bid on domestic cricketers categorized into A, B, and C categories.

Out of the many players registered for the auction, here are our five picks to look out for in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) auction.

1. Aadil Ansari

Right-arm medium-pace bowling all-rounder Aadil Ansari is likely to draw strong interest from franchises at the NPL auction. Once suspended for spot-fixing during the Nepal T20 League, Aadil's ban was lifted by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) in May 2025. He marked his return to domestic cricket that very month and has impressed in the T20 format since then.

He made an immediate impact in the Janakpur Dham Mayor Cup 2025, where he scored 163 runs in four innings for Bara, who finished runners-up. His tournament highlights included an 80 off 43 against Muzaffarpur (India) and a 50 off just 21 balls in the final against Lucknow (India).

Aadil continued his form in the Madhesh Cricket League, scoring 189 runs from eight innings, including a vital 73* off 37 against Parsa when his side was in deep trouble at 33/4. Bara went on to win the tournament, with Aadil finishing as the team's third-highest run-getter.

Ahead of joining the national T20 camp for the upcoming World Cup Qualifier, he featured in two more tournaments - the Jitpur Simra 5th T20 Harpur Champion Trophy and the Jeetpursimara Cricket Cup 2025, scoring 33 and 53 runs from two and three innings, respectively.

Since his comeback, Aadil has shifted his focus primarily to batting, featuring as a specialist batter in most games. He has bowled in only two of his 17 domestic T20 innings, picking up a total of three wickets.

2. Sher Malla

In one of the most surprising pre-auction decisions, defending champions Janakpur Bolts released all-rounder Sher Malla, their reliable mystery spinner. Sher played a crucial role in the inaugural season of the Nepal Premier League, picking up seven wickets in seven matches at an impressive economy rate of 6.76. He was equally valuable with the bat, not to forget his important 16* off 10 balls, including a vital six, in the second qualifier against Karnali Yaks, helping Janakpur secure a spot in the final.

The 2025 season has further cemented Sher's credentials as one of Nepal's most effective spinners. He began the year with a standout campaign in the Men's PM Cup, where he finished as Sudurpaschim Province's leading wicket-taker, bagging 18 wickets from nine innings. His magical spell of 10-6-4-5 against Madhesh Province now stands as the most economical 10-over performance in PM Cup history.

In domestic T20s, Sher has maintained top form across three tournaments, Arjun Trophy, Koshi Premier League, and Madhesh Premier League, collecting 28 wickets in 16 innings at a remarkable economy of 5.63, including three four-wicket hauls.

3. Pawan Sarraf

One of the most consistent all-rounders in Nepal's domestic circuit, Pawan Sarraf, is set to return to the Nepal Premier League after missing the inaugural season due to injury. Known for his dual ability with both bat and ball, Pawan has had multiple stints with the national team but has struggled to cement his place due to inconsistent performances at the international level.

Pawan made a strong domestic comeback in the Men's PM Cup 2025, representing Madhesh Province, where he scored 298 runs in nine innings. His selection was backed by a standout performance in the Madhesh Province PM Cup selection matches, where he represented Bara and delivered with the bat, which included two back-to-back fifties.

In T20s, Pawan has maintained a balanced contribution with both bat and ball. Across the Madhesh Cricket League and the Janakpur Dham Mayor Cup 2025, he accumulated 216 runs from 12 innings, often anchoring the middle order. With the ball, he has been equally effective, picking up 20 wickets in nine innings at a tidy economy rate of 6.18.

Pawan is also included in the 32-member T20 Camp for the national team.

4. Dev Khanal

After a disappointing outing in the inaugural season of the Nepal Premier League, Dev Khanal has been released by Karnali Yaks. Once hailed as Nepal's next big thing in batting, Dev managed just 116 runs from nine innings, averaging 12.88 with a lone half-century in the first edition, far below expectations for a player of his caliber.

Dev's form hasn't seen a major turnaround in the 2025 domestic season either. He featured in only one T20 tournament'the KP Oli Cup National T20 where he scored 48 runs in three innings, struggling to make a significant impact.

Despite a lackluster run of form, franchises are expected to keep an eye on Dev during the upcoming auction. At just 20 years of age, he brings rare technical finesse at the top of the order and has already gained international experience, having represented Nepal in both T20Is and ODIs, and can also be seen as a possible candidate for a leadership role, having already captained Nepal U19 in the Youth World Cup.

With a limited pool of experienced top-order batters available in the auction, Dev Khanal could still draw bids based on potential, maturity, and the promise he has shown in his career so far.

5. Surya Tamang

Following a quiet campaign in the first season of the Nepal Premier League, Surya Tamang was released by Lumbini Lions. The left-arm spinner managed just one wicket in four matches, failing to make a mark while his teammate Abhishesh Gautam bagged six wickets in as many games, earning him a retention spot.

Despite that underwhelming performance, Surya remains firmly in the mix for a strong comeback at the NPL 2025. His skill set, a classical left-arm orthodox spinner, remains in high demand, especially considering the spin-friendly surfaces of the TU Cricket Ground.

Surya has bounced back well in domestic T20s this year. Across two tournaments, KP Oli Cup National T20 and the Arjun Trophy, he has picked up 13 wickets in seven matches, maintaining a miserly economy rate of under 6 runs per over.

With several franchises reportedly looking to bolster their spin departments, Surya Tamang is expected to trigger a bidding contest, offering value as a restrictive middle-overs option and a bowler who can exploit turning conditions effectively.