KATHMANDU, May 15: Biratnagar Titans spent the most in the first ever players’ draft ceremony held for the upcoming first season of Women Champions League (WCL) in Kathmandu on Tuesday. The draft for the women’s premier cricket league organized by Queens Event Management Pvt Ltd was completed after 55 players were drafted.
A total of 109 players registered for the draft. 10 players were categorized in Diamond whereas 18 players were listed in Rubies. Similarly, 51 players registered for the Sapphires from which only 27 players were drafted. 30 players will undergo talent hunt to be included in franchise teams.
Titans, led by marquee player Sarita Magar, which is the franchise that also owns the men’s team in Pokhara Premier League (PPL), used the total available purse of Rs 500,000 to purchase 11 players on Monday.
National cricket team members Sonu Khadka and Aarati Bidari were contracted for Rs 75,000 each. Similarly, Jyoti Pandey, Dolly Bhatt, Sabnam Rai, Laxmi Chaudhary, and Pratikchya Basyal will receive Rs 50,000 for their participation in the WCL. Likewise, Kritika Marasini, Karishma Gurung, Sharmila Rokka Magar, and Asmina Karmacharya were drafted for Rs 25,000 each.
Kat Queens Kathmandu led by marquee player and national cricket team skipper Rubina Chhetry spent Rs 475,000 in the drafts. Apsara Begam and Roma Thapa were the franchise’s most priced scalps costing Rs 75,000 each. Similarly, the team splashed Rs 50,000 each to acquire the services of Rashmi Sharma Chaulagain, Sagita Rai, Saraswati Chaudhary and Mamta Thapa for the league.
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Likewise, Suman Bist, Nitu Bhandari, Ishwori Bist, Laxmi Saud, and Manisha Rana will receive Rs 25,000 each.
The remaining three franchises spent Rs 425,000 each to complete their teams. Lalitpur Falcons led by marquee player Nery Thapa drafted Mamata Chaudhary and Karuna Bhandari for Rs 75,000 each as their two most expensive players.
Similarly, Kabita Kunwar and Bindu Rawal were the two most expensive buys for the Pokhara Paltan. Marquee player Sita Rana Magar-led Paltan, which also owns a men’s franchise team in PPL, spent Rs 50,000 each for Anjali Chand and Anuradha Chaudhary.
Likewise, Chitwan Rhinos, led by marquee player Indu Verma, drafted Kajal Shrestha and Ritu Kanoujiya for Rs 75,000 each.
Rhinos contracted seven players for Rs 25,000 each, apart from Santoshi Chaudhary and Rekha Rawal who were contracted for Rs 50,000 each.
Each team will further contract two players from Wild Card to complete a final squad of 14 players. No overseas players will take part in the league for the first edition.
The tournament, set to be held at Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kathmandu, was postponed a week ago to late September.
The player registration for the final draft was opened on May 2. Entrants were classified into four categories—Diamond, Sapphire, Rubies, and Wild Card.
International cricketers were included in Diamond category (Rs 75,000), followed by national cricketers in Sapphire (Rs 50,000). Likewise, regional level players were categorized under Rubies (Rs 25,000), whereas talent hunt winners were auctioned in Wild Card category. Each franchise had to acquire at least two players from the Wild Cards.
Five teams -- Falcons, Paltan (Women), Kat Queens Kathmandu, Chitwan Rhinos (Women), and Biratnagar Titans (Women) -- will take part in the tournament.
The WCL had announced the marquee players and the team owners for the first edition of
the franchise tournament in
mid-April.
