Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki of Koshi Province has pledged to establish cricket training centers at nine locations within the province and secure the necessary budget for these initiatives. Following the handover of the Baijnathpur Cricket Stadium, he also announced plans to operate a state-of-the-art stadium within the next two years. The provincial government is currently preparing a budget and planning to install floodlights at the Mechi Stadium to facilitate international tournaments. (27 Baisakh, Morang)
Opening the two-day annual general meeting organized by the Nepal Cricket Association in Biratnagar, Chief Minister Karki committed to allocating the required budget to establish training centers across nine different locations in the province to nurture cricket players from the grassroots level. He added that after the federal government transferred the Baijnathpur Cricket Stadium in Biratnagar to the provincial government, there are plans to construct and operate a modern stadium equipped with top-notch facilities within two years.
Chief Minister Karki informed that the provincial government would arrange a budget to host international-level competitions at Mechi Stadium and install floodlights for night matches. He emphasized that developing cricket in the province to produce capable players would require the provincial government’s support in the third edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL). He urged the Cricket Association to include the provincial government in the league.
Moreover, he proposed arranging the first prize for the tournament and renaming the Biratnagar Kings as ‘Koshi Arnaj.’ Provincial Minister for Finance and Planning, Vidur Kumar Lingthep, highlighted Nepal’s growing global reputation through cricket and committed to supporting the development of the sport’s physical infrastructure.
