Pokhara Avengers Squad and Schedule NPL 2026: Full List
Published on October 23, 2026
Summary Overview: Pokhara Avengers' squad for the Nepal Premier League 2026, captained by Kushal Bhurtel with Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mahedi Hasan, Chamika Karunaratne and Dhananjaya Lakshan. All seven league fixtures in Nepal Time, UTC, IST and ET.
Who are Pokhara Avengers? One of the eight franchises in the Nepal Premier League (NPL), Nepal's franchise T20 competition.
Who is the captain? Opening batter Kushal Bhurtel, retained as the team's marquee player.
Who are the overseas players? Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin and Mahedi Hasan, and Sri Lanka's Chamika Karunaratne and Dhananjaya Lakshan. All five are all-rounders.
When is their first match? Wednesday, October 28 against Sudurpaschim Royals at 5:00 PM Nepal Time (11:15 UTC, 4:45 PM IST, 7:15 AM ET).
The Story: A Squad Built on All-Rounders
The Nepal Premier League returns for its third season from October 26 to November 21, with every game at the TU International Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur. Lumbini Lions are the defending champions, and Janakpur Bolts won the first title in 2024.
For readers new to cricket: in a T20 match, each team bats for up to 20 overs (an over is six legal deliveries), so a game lasts about three and a half hours. In the NPL, the eight teams play each other once, and the top four reach the playoffs. Each team can field up to four overseas players in its XI.
Pokhara have gone further than anyone in loading up on all-rounders. Eleven of their 18 players are listed as all-rounders, including all five overseas signings. Only two specialist batters, Bhurtel and Dinesh Kharel, are in the squad.
The Talking Points
Shakib Al Hasan, the Headline Name
Shakib Al Hasan is one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of the game, a left-handed batter and left-arm spinner who spent years at the top of the ICC rankings. The NPL has confirmed he will be available for the full season.
A Bangladesh Trio
Shakib is joined by seam-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin and off-spinning all-rounder Mahedi Hasan. With Sri Lankans Chamika Karunaratne and the retained Dhananjaya Lakshan, Pokhara have five overseas options for only four places in the XI.
Bhurtel at the Top
Kushal Bhurtel was retained as Pokhara's marquee player and named captain. He is one of Nepal's most attacking openers.
Arjun Gharti, the Top Buy
All-rounder Arjun Gharti was Pokhara's most expensive buy at the auction, at Rs. 15 lakh. Everyone else bought at the auction cost Rs. 2 lakh.
The Full Pokhara Avengers Squad
| Role | Players |
| Captain | Kushal Bhurtel |
| Batters | Kushal Bhurtel (c), Dinesh Kharel |
| All-rounders | Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mahedi Hasan, Chamika Karunaratne, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Arjun Gharti, Arjun Kumal, Bipin Khatri, Kiran Thagunna, Sunny BK, Bipin Acharya |
| Bowlers | Sagar Dhakal, Aakash Chand, Sudip Aryal, Bibek Rana Magar, Pratik Pokharel |
18 players as of October 24. Overseas: Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mahedi Hasan (Bangladesh), Chamika Karunaratne, Dhananjaya Lakshan (Sri Lanka). Each NPL squad must have six to eight overseas players, so one more overseas signing may be announced.
How They Were Signed
| Player | How signed | Price |
| Kushal Bhurtel | Retained (marquee) | |
| Dinesh Kharel | Retained | |
| Dhananjaya Lakshan | Retained | |
| Arjun Kumal | Retained | |
| Bipin Khatri | Retained | |
| Kiran Thagunna | Retained | |
| Sagar Dhakal | Retained | |
| Aakash Chand | Retained | |
| Shakib Al Hasan | Overseas signing | |
| Mohammad Saifuddin | Overseas signing | |
| Mahedi Hasan | Overseas signing | |
| Chamika Karunaratne | Overseas signing | |
| Arjun Gharti | Auction | Rs. 15 lakh |
| Sunny BK | Auction | Rs. 2 lakh |
| Bipin Acharya | Auction | Rs. 2 lakh |
| Sudip Aryal | Auction | Rs. 2 lakh |
| Bibek Rana Magar | Auction | Rs. 2 lakh |
| Pratik Pokharel | Auction | Rs. 2 lakh |
Prices are in Nepali rupees, as listed by the Nepal Premier League.
📄 Download the Pokhara Avengers squad and schedule as a PDF to save or share.
Players to Watch
Shakib Al Hasan: A Bangladesh great with bat and left-arm spin, available for the full season.
Kushal Bhurtel (c): Nepal's attacking opener and Pokhara's captain and marquee player.
Chamika Karunaratne: A Sri Lanka seam-bowling all-rounder who can hit hard late in an innings.
Mohammad Saifuddin: A Bangladesh seamer who bowls at the death and bats in the lower order.
Sagar Dhakal: A retained Nepal left-arm spinner.
Arjun Gharti: Pokhara's most expensive auction buy at Rs. 15 lakh.
Pokhara Avengers Fixtures (Nepal Time, UTC, IST and ET)
All matches are at the TU International Cricket Stadium, Kirtipur.
| # | Date | Opponent | Nepal (NPT) | UTC | IST | ET |
| 4 | Wed, Oct 28 | vs Sudurpaschim Royals | 5:00 PM | 11:15 | 4:45 PM | 7:15 AM |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 1 | vs Janakpur Bolts | 5:00 PM | 11:15 | 4:45 PM | 6:15 AM |
| 13 | Tue, Nov 3 | vs Lumbini Lions | 5:00 PM | 11:15 | 4:45 PM | 6:15 AM |
| 17 | Fri, Nov 6 | vs Chitwan Rhinos | 5:00 PM | 11:15 | 4:45 PM | 6:15 AM |
| 19 | Mon, Nov 9 | vs Karnali Yaks | 12:30 PM | 06:45 | 12:15 PM | 1:45 AM |
| 22 | Thu, Nov 12 | vs Biratnagar Kings | 12:30 PM | 06:45 | 12:15 PM | 1:45 AM |
| 28 | Sun, Nov 15 | vs Kathmandu Gurkhas | 5:00 PM | 11:15 | 4:45 PM | 6:15 AM |
NPT is Nepal Time (UTC+5:45). IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). ET is US Eastern Time: Daylight Time (UTC-4) until November 1, then Standard Time (UTC-5). In Pakistan, 12:30 PM games start at 11:45 AM and 5:00 PM games at 4:15 PM. Every match starts on the same calendar date in all zones.
The fixture pattern: Pokhara play their first four games in the evening slot, then two early starts. They finish with the last league match of the season against Kathmandu Gurkhas on November 15, a game that could decide a playoff place.
Playoffs (If They Qualify)
| Stage | Date | Fixture | Nepal (NPT) | UTC | IST | ET |
| Qualifier 1 | Tue, Nov 17 | 1st vs 2nd | 5:00 PM | 11:15 | 4:45 PM | 6:15 AM |
| Eliminator | Wed, Nov 18 | 3rd vs 4th | 5:00 PM | 11:15 | 4:45 PM | 6:15 AM |
| Qualifier 2 | Thu, Nov 19 | Loser Q1 vs Winner Eliminator | 5:00 PM | 11:15 | 4:45 PM | 6:15 AM |
| Final | Sat, Nov 21 | Winner Q1 vs Winner Q2 | 5:00 PM | 11:15 | 4:45 PM | 6:15 AM |
Stat Corner
| Stat | Figure |
| Squad size | 18 as of Oct 24 |
| All-rounders | 11 |
| Overseas players | 5 (all all-rounders) |
| Retained players | 8 |
| Most expensive auction buy | Arjun Gharti, Rs. 15 lakh |
| League matches | 7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is in the Pokhara Avengers squad for NPL 2026?
- Kushal Bhurtel (c), Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mahedi Hasan, Chamika Karunaratne, Dhananjaya Lakshan and 12 more. The full list is above.
Is Shakib Al Hasan playing in the Nepal Premier League?
- Yes. He plays for Pokhara Avengers and has been confirmed for the full season.
Who is the Pokhara Avengers captain?
- Kushal Bhurtel.
When do Pokhara Avengers play their first match?
- Wednesday, October 28, 2026, against Sudurpaschim Royals at 5:00 PM Nepal Time (4:45 PM IST).
Where are NPL 2026 matches played?
- All matches are at the TU International Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur.
Related Guides and Series Coverage
📋 Nepal Premier League 2026 Schedule: Full NPL Season 3 Fixtures, Teams and Match Times
📋 Lumbini Lions Squad and Schedule for NPL 2026