Everest Premier League return date to factor in schedules of Gayle and other marquee signings, says event boss

Organisers of Nepal’s Everest Premier League have said that marquee signings’ availability will come into consideration when finding a competition resumption date.

Perhaps the biggest marquee signing for the competition, Chris Gayle, who was signed to play for the Pokhara Rhinos will likely be the main man the organisers look to retain for the competition.

However, the competition, slated to begin March 14 was postponed shortly before it’s start date due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

Gayle was one of several marquee international signings for the competition which included his former West Indian teammates Dwayne Smith and Kesrick Williams. With Upul Tharanga, Corey Anderson and Jeevan Mendis also among the big names to sign.

With Nepal currently having 89 cases of the virus, the setting of a return date will certainly bring into consideration the return of Gayle and its other marquee signings said the EPL’s managing director Aamir Akhtar to Paul Radley of The National in UAE.

“Of course the availability dates for Chris Gayle and other foreign players shall be considered, and shall be put on priority”.

“We would love to have him in EPL if everything works out. He has a huge fan following in Nepal” said Akhtar, who spoke to Daniel Beswick in on The Emerging Cricket Podcast in January 2020, before the coronavirus pandemic caused the event’s postponement.

Listen below.

As sporting competitions worldwide begin to resume a resumption date has been brought into focus for Nepal’s major T20 tournament.

Akhtar has said the league will not commit to any new dates with the ongoing uncertainty however was optimistic most players would be able to still play.

“Events like EPL are a responsible activity so we mustn’t rush into announcing new possible dates at the moment,”

“The star players who have committed to play in EPL are there more for the love of cricket in Nepal,” Akhtar said.

This season was slated to be the biggest season of the Premier League since its inception four years ago with Akhtar keen to see the competition be the biggest associate T20 league in the world.

“At this moment, we would like to be placed as the biggest franchise league among the Associate nations.

“The fan base, media coverage and our local talent are far above many Associate nations.”