In a major boost for Nepali cricket, four players from Nepal have been shortlisted for the Lanka Premier League 2026 player draft. Sandeep Lamichhane, Dipendra Singh Airee, Kushal Bhurtel and Gulshan Jha have been shortlisted from Nepal.
The LPL 2026 draft is scheduled for June 01, and the four Nepali cricketers will be hoping to hear their names called as franchises build their squads for the upcoming edition of the tournament.
243 Overseas Players from 22 Nations
A total of 243 overseas players representing 22 nations have been shortlisted for the draft, making it one of the most globally diverse player pools in the tournament's history. Pakistan leads the shortlist with 39 players, followed by Bangladesh with 33 and South Africa with 23.
Here is the full country-wise breakdown of shortlisted players:
Pakistan: 39
Bangladesh: 33
South Africa: 23
Afghanistan: 18
New Zealand: 17
West Indies: 17
Australia: 13
Ireland: 13
USA: 11
UAE: 10
Zimbabwe: 8
Netherlands: 7
England: 6
Italy: 5
Nepal: 4
Scotland: 4
Canada: 3
Namibia: 3
Kuwait: 3
Oman: 2
Malaysia: 2
India: 1
Associate Nation Rule Works in Nepal's Favour
Notably, each LPL franchise is required to select at least one Associate nation player in their squad — a rule that significantly improves the chances of Nepali players securing a contract. These Associate Players if selected under Associate Category will receive US $ 15,000. With Nepal being one of the prominent Associate cricket nations, the four shortlisted players will be highly attractive picks for franchises looking to fulfil that requirement.