Nepal Premier League Adds DRS for First Time in Nepali Cricket

Nepali domestic cricket will use the Decision Review System for the first time when the third season of the Nepal Premier League gets under way, the Cricket Association of Nepal has announced.

The league, sponsored by Siddharth Bank, confirmed the move in a video message on its official page during the Dashain festival, calling DRS a new milestone for Nepali cricket and addressing its supporters as Rhino Fans. The tournament is scheduled to run from October 26 to November 21, according to TechPana, which reported the announcement from Kathmandu on Tuesday. The Cricket Association of Nepal had already hinted that the system was being tested, so the confirmation did not come out of nowhere.

What DRS is

The Decision Review System is the set of tools that lets teams challenge some decisions by the on-field umpires. Match officials can then look again at a dismissal, at whether the ball hit the bat, and at other close moments before the call stands or changes. The system is widely used in international cricket, where it has been standard for years. For Nepali players, many of whom meet this technology only when they play for the national team, having it at home closes a gap between domestic and international cricket.

What the system will do

The DRS package goes beyond a simple review. According to the league's announcement, it includes 3D ball tracking to help umpires judge leg before wicket appeals, and multi angle replays for close run out and stumping decisions.

A front foot no ball review system using frame synchronisation technology will watch bowlers' front feet automatically. An AI powered system called NickSense, which uses audio from the stump microphones, will help detect edges when the bat touches the ball.

More than reviews

The broadcast package adds tools viewers in bigger leagues take for granted. Speed tracking will show bowling speeds on screen and on the stadium's large screens. Ball release profiles will show how the ball moves, field setting displays will show where fielders stand in real time, and six hitting analytics will track the distance and flight of big shots. Height and width analytics for deliveries are part of the package as well.

The tournament itself

The third season will be played at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, with eight franchise teams chasing the title. The league, known as the Festival of the Himalayas, has become the main stage for Nepali franchise cricket, bringing local players and overseas names together in front of growing crowds.

For players, the change is practical. Close decisions in past Nepali domestic seasons stood with no way to challenge them, and disputed calls in earlier editions of this league drew criticism and long arguments among players and fans. From this season, teams can ask for a second look, and umpires get the same kind of evidence that decides matches in international cricket.

The system has limits, and league coverage of the announcement made that point too. Reviews can only be as good as the cameras, the tracking and the footage available on the day, and DRS does not remove every error. What it does give Nepal is a fairer way to settle the calls that can turn a close T20 game.

The announcement lands in a good week for Nepali cricket. On Monday, Nepal beat Oman by 10 runs in Oman to finish sixth in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 standings and protect their one day international status.