NPL 2026 squad changes: Nepali player moves, a new marquee and overseas signings
Squad roundup · Checked 27 October 2026
The Nepal Premier League’s third season brings a reshaped Janakpur squad, a significant wicketkeeping addition for defending champions Lumbini, and a larger cast of overseas names. Aasif Sheikh’s move to Lumbini Lions is the standout Nepali signing, while Lalit Rajbanshi takes over as Janakpur Bolts’ marquee player.
This roundup covers Nepali player movements and announced overseas recruitment. Pakistani players are omitted for now because of uncertainty over participation. A signing is not a guarantee of match availability.
Which Nepali players have changed teams?
The following changes compare 2025 squad records with announced 2026 acquisitions. They include senior internationals and other Nepali domestic players. These are changes of franchise, largely through the auction, rather than confirmed player-for-player trades.
Nepali players moving between NPL franchises for 2026
Player | 2025 team | 2026 team |
|---|---|---|
Imran Sheikh | ||
Naren Saud | ||
Pratik Shrestha | ||
Rupesh Kumar Singh | ||
Abhisekh Tiwari | ||
Amar Singh Rautela | ||
Bishal Patel | ||
Trit Raj Das | ||
Shubh Kansakar | ||
Surya Tamang | ||
Krishna Poudel | ||
Sahil Patel | ||
Aakash Tripathi | ||
Aasif Sheikh | ||
Kishore Mahato | ||
Arjun Gharti | ||
Bipin Acharya | ||
Sachin Bhatt |
The Cricnepal auction live blog records the new destinations. Janakpur’s departures include Aasif, Kishore Mahato, Rupesh Singh and Shubh Kansakar; its incoming group includes Trit Raj Das, Abhisekh Tiwari, Bishal Patel and Amar Singh Rautela. See OnlineKhabar’s Janakpur squad report.
Lalit Rajbanshi is Janakpur’s new marquee player
Janakpur released Aasif Sheikh and named Lalit Rajbanshi its new marquee. Aasif’s arrival at Lumbini does not replace Rohit Paudel as the Lions’ marquee. Janakpur has also appointed overseas recruit Harmeet Singh as captain: captaincy and the domestic marquee designation are separate roles. Source: Janakpur’s rebuild
The other domestic marquee names remain Karan KC for Kathmandu, Sandeep Lamichhane for Biratnagar, Kushal Malla for Chitwan, Sompal Kami for Karnali, Dipendra Singh Airee for Sudurpaschim, Kushal Bhurtel for Pokhara and Rohit Paudel for Lumbini. Marquee listing
Which overseas players have moved between NPL teams?
Harmeet Singh’s switch is one of the clearest changes of franchise. Other overseas recruits are also moving within the NPL, while some are returning to a team they represented before 2025. The table follows the 2025-to-2026 change rather than treating every familiar name as a retention.
Overseas moves between NPL franchises, 2025 to 2026
Player | 2025 team | 2026 team | What changed? |
|---|---|---|---|
Harmeet Singh | Moves after two seasons with the Royals and takes over as Janakpur captain. Signing and captaincy report | ||
Jimmy Neesham | Returns to the team he helped win the 2024 title after a season at Pokhara. Return report | ||
Will Bosisto | Joins Kathmandu after playing the first two editions for Karnali. Kathmandu preview | ||
Saif Zaib | Returns to his inaugural-season franchise after being listed with Chitwan in 2025. Royals signing report · 2025 squads |
Harmeet: from a two-time finalist to Janakpur’s captain
The USA all-rounder represented Sudurpaschim in both 2024 and 2025, when the Royals reached consecutive finals. His move brings Janakpur a player familiar with the competition and adds left-arm spin alongside the captaincy responsibility. Lalit Rajbanshi remains the domestic marquee; Harmeet’s appointment is a separate leadership change. Source
What this means for the squads: Janakpur combines a new overseas captain with a returning title-winner in Neesham. Kathmandu gains Bosisto’s NPL experience as it rebuilds its overseas group. Sudurpaschim loses Harmeet but brings back Zaib to a familiar setup. These are changes of team, not evidence of direct player-for-player swaps.
Overseas players: who stayed, who returned and who is new?
“Retained” below means continuing with the same franchise from last season. A player returning after an earlier stint is identified separately. “New” means new to that team, not necessarily making an NPL debut.
Reported overseas recruitment, excluding Pakistani players
Team | Retained or returning | New to the team |
|---|---|---|
No returning 2025 overseas player identified in the cited preview. | David Warner, KS Bharat, Sahan Arachchige and Will Bosisto. Report | |
Ravi Bopara retained. | Sikandar Raza and Canada’s Kaleem Sana. Report | |
Shubham Ranjane returns. | Andre Russell, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews and Shehan Jayasuriya. Report | |
Jimmy Neesham returns from Pokhara after helping Janakpur win the 2024 title; not a same-team 2025 retention. | Harmeet Singh (from Sudurpaschim, as captain) and Moeen Ali. Report | |
Mark Watt re-signed. | David Miller, Akbar Ali and Ariful Islam. Report | |
Scott Kuggeleijn continues. Saif Zaib and Brandon McMullen return after earlier spells. | Sherfane Rutherford and Fabian Allen. Report | |
Dhananjaya Lakshan retained. | Shakib Al Hasan, Chamika Karunaratne, Mahedi Hasan and Mohammad Saifuddin. Report | |
Niroshan Dickwella, D’Arcy Short and Ruben Trumpelmann retained. | Shamim Hossain and Shadley van Schalkwyk. Report |
Lumbini has kept a three-player overseas core, while Chitwan, Biratnagar, Karnali, Pokhara and Sudurpaschim also bring back familiar names. Kathmandu has rebuilt its overseas group; Bosisto is new to Kathmandu after playing for Karnali. Janakpur combines Neesham’s return with a new overseas captain.
For Pokhara, this article uses Mahedi Hasan, as named in BDCricTime’s signing report; he is a different player from Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Saif Zaib and McMullen are described as returning players based on reports of their earlier Royals spell and 2024 involvement, rather than being automatically labelled 2025 retentions.
Additional signing coverage: Mathews and van Schalkwyk, Miller at Karnali, and the Kathmandu Post’s overseas roundup.
The biggest changes to watch
Lumbini has added Aasif and Kishore to a squad that retains its domestic marquee and an established overseas core. Janakpur’s change runs deeper: a new marquee, a new captain and several domestic departures. Elsewhere, Warner at Kathmandu, Russell at Biratnagar, Miller at Karnali and Shakib at Pokhara give supporters prominent new names to follow.
Squads can still change. This is a sourced recruitment roundup, not a final registered squad or a confirmed playing XI. Browse the team pages for squad information and the match schedule for fixtures.
Disclaimer: This article was generated with the assistance of AI based on data available in our database. While we strive for accuracy, errors or discrepancies may occur. If you identify any inaccuracies or have concerns regarding the information presented, please contact us so we can review and address them.