In a major coup by a domestic franchise in Nepal’s T20 leagues, Kathmandu Kings XI from Everest Premier League have now signed up Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien, Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza and UAE’s Rohan Mustafa to play in the 3rd edition of the league.
ECB registered sports agency, Stem Sports oversaw the contract signing for UAE’s Mustafa, as he returns to Nepal for the second time after his first visit in 2018 for Dhangadhi Premier League, in which he was adjudged the Player of the Series.
Kathmandu Kings XI are happy to announce the first centurion for Ireland @KevinOBrien113 as 1st international player for this year’s TVS EPL. Many thanks to agent @niallnobiobrien for arranging the contract pic.twitter.com/8j3pZ4WZyM
— Kathmandu Kings XI (@KathmanduKings) June 26, 2018
Kevin has represented Ireland in 63 T20I’s with two upcoming matches scheduled against India on 27th and 29th June 2018. He has also played in 187 T20 matches in his career so far which includes stints in England’s T20 Blast, Bangladesh’s Premier League and in the Caribbean Premier League. Kevin recently became the 4th ever player in Test Cricket history to have scored a century in their country’s debut Test match, against Pakistan in May 2018.
This is only the second time that a Test playing member nation player has signed up to play a domestic T20 competition in Nepal after various players from other Associate countries have taken part in the previous edition of Everest Premier League. Kevin’s brother and Ireland team-mate and manager Niall O’Brien arranged the contract signing with the franchise.
Rohan Mustafa (UAE Skipper) signs for Kathmandu Kings XI in EPL! He had a wonderful CWCQ campaign and DPL in Nepal earlier in the year, finishing as player of the series! Super excited for our allrounder @rohanmustafa88 😀🎉🏏 #Cricket #EPL #Cricket #Deals #Allrounder #StemSports pic.twitter.com/UgcEQVVE8A
— Stem Sports (@Stemsports1) July 16, 2018
Mustafa recently concluded his stint in GT20 Canada and will be looking to form a formidable partnership with Kevin for Kathmandu Kings XI in the tournament and the combination will surely bring Nepali crowd on their feet with cheers and applause.
Kathmandu Kings XI completed their overseas signing quota for 2018 by bringing in ICC World Cup Qualifiers Man-of-the-Series, Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza on board to finalise their high-profile signing spree that now sees a very strong line-up of not only specialist T20 hitters but also more than capable all-rounders with good skills with the ball as well.
Raza has the experience of not only playing in International cricket but has also had stints with T20 leagues like Afghanistan’s Shpageeza, Bangladesh Premier League and the recently concluded GT20 Canada. He has played in 76 T20 matches so far in his career including 28 T20I matches for Zimbabwe.
Super excited to be joining @KathmanduKings for the @eplt20official
Can't wait to see all the cricket loving and passionate people of Nepal and to be playing along brothers @Sompal_Kami @rohanmustafa88 @KevinOBrien113
See you all soon@Stemsports1 https://t.co/U950YxN9PK— Sikandar Raza (@SRazaB24) August 28, 2018
