Prime Minister Cup Men's National Cricket Tournament

Prime Minister Cup Men's National Cricket Tournament
CountriesNepal
AdministratorCricket Association of Nepal
FormatOne-day cricket
First edition2017
Latest edition2026
Next edition2027
Tournament formatRound-robin
Number of teams10
Current championTribhuwan Army Club (3rd title)
Most successfulNepal Police Club (4 titles)
QualificationJay Trophy
Most runsBinod Bhandari (1824)[1]
Most wicketsLalit Rajbanshi (125)[2]
Websitecricketnepal.org.np

The Prime Minister Cup Men's National Cricket Tournament (Nepali: प्रधानमन्त्री कप पुरुष राष्ट्रिय क्रिकेट प्रतियोगिता) is a premier domestic One-day cricket tournament in Nepal. It was organised annually by the Cricket Association of Nepal. This tournament featured 10 teams which are 7 Provincial teams and 3 Departmental teams.[3][4]

The teams represent the seven provinces of Nepal, and three departmental teams. The current champions are Nepal Police Club.

History

The first edition of the Prime Minister Cup was organised in 2017 by the National Sports Council following the suspension of the Cricket Association of Nepal by International Cricket Council. It was the nation’s top-tier domestic cricket league, boasting the largest prize pool.[5] The inaugural edition ended in a shared title between Nepal Police Club and Tribhuvan Army Club after rain disrupted the final.[6][7] All matches were played at Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in a round-robin group format, with each group containing 4 teams.

The 2024 edition brought a significant format change, scrapping the group system entirely.[8] Now the top two teams qualify for the final while the top four qualify for the newly introduced Jay Trophy.[9] This was also the first edition where matches were played outside of TU Cricket Ground, with games held at Mulpani Cricket Ground and Siddhartha Cricket Stadium.

In 2026, the qualification spots for the Jay Trophy were increased to six. This edition also marked the first appearance of a provincial team in the final, where Sudurpaschim ultimately fell to Tribhuvan Army Club by five wickets.[10]

Tournament format

The inaugural edition had eight teams, five regional teams and three departmental teams, competing in two round-robin groups with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals. All matches were played in the one-day format. The following season the five regional teams were replaced by teams representing the seven provinces, taking the number of teams to ten.

The format was changed for the 2024 season, with the ten teams competing in a round-robin format and the top two teams qualifying for the final. The top four teams also qualify for the multi-day Jay Trophy.[11][12]

Teams

The following ten teams currently participate in the Prime Minister One Day Cup.

Team First season Titles Runner-up First title Last title
Koshi Province[a] 2018 0 0 N/a N/a
Madhesh Province[b] 2018 0 0 N/a N/a
Bagmati Province[c] 2018 0 0 N/a N/a
Gandaki Province[d] 2018 0 0 N/a N/a
Lumbini Province[e] 2018 0 0 N/a N/a
Karnali Province[f] 2018 0 0 N/a N/a
Sudurpashchim Province[g] 2018 0 1 N/a N/a
Tribhuwan Army Club 2017 3 5 2017 2026
Nepal APF Club 2017 2 1 2018 2022
Nepal Police Club 2017 4 0 2017 2025

Defunct teams

The following teams also appeared in the Prime Minister Cup.

  • Eastern Development Region (2017)
  • Central Development Region (2017)
  • Western Development Region (2017)
  • Mid-Western Development Region (2017)
  • Far-Western Development Region (2017)

Winners

Season Final Most runs Most wickets Player of the tournament Ref
Winner Runner-up
2017[13] Nepal Police Club,
Tribhuwan Army Club[n 1]		 N/A[n 1] Saurav Khanal (Western) Sushan Bhari (TAC)
Sagar Pun (TAC)		 Sagar Pun (TAC)[13]
2018 Armed Police Force Club Tribhuwan Army Club Pradeep Airee (APF) Sushan Bhari (TAC),
Sompal Kami (TAC)		 Sagar Pun (TAC)[14]
2019 Nepal Police Club Tribhuwan Army Club Raju Rijal (TAC) Lalit Rajbanshi (NPC) Lalit Rajbanshi (NPC)[15]
2021 Tribhuwan Army Club Armed Police Force Club Prithu Baskota (Bagmati) Abinash Bohara (APF) Kamal Airee (APF)
2022 Armed Police Force Club Tribhuwan Army Club Dipendra Singh Airee (NPC) Mousom Dhakal (APF) Dipendra Singh Airee (NPC)
2024 Nepal Police Club Tribhuwan Army Club Anil Sah (Madhesh) Surya Tamang (Bagmati) Surya Tamang (Bagmati)
2025 Nepal Police Club Tribhuwan Army Club Arjun Kumal (Gandaki) Lalit Rajbanshi (NPC) Lalit Rajbanshi (NPC)
2026 Tribhuwan Army Club Sudurpashchim Province Arjun Kumal (Gandaki) Hemant Dhami (Sudurpaschim) Santosh Yadav (Lumbini)

Team's performance

Seasons

Season
(No. of teams)		 2017
(8)		 2018
(10)		 2019
(10)		 2021
(10)		 2022
(10)		 2024
(10)		 2025
(10)		 2026
(10)
Bagmati Province—GSSFSFGSGSGSGS
Gandaki Province—GSGSGSGSGSGSGS
Karnali Province—GSGSGSGSGSGSGS
Lumbini Province—SFGSGSGSGSGSGS
Nepal APF Club SFCSFRUCGSGSGS
Nepal Police Club CSFCSFSFCCGS
Koshi Province—GSGSGSGSGSGSGS
Madhesh Province—GSGSGSSFGSGSGS
Sudurpashchim Province—GSGSGSGSGSGSRU
Tribhuwan Army Club CRURUCRURURUC
Eastern Development Region†GS—
Central Development Region†GS—
Western Development Region† SF—
Mid-Western Development Region†GS—
Far Western Development Region†GS—

† Team now defunct

  •   C: Champions
  •   RU: Runner-up
  •   SF: Semi-final
  • GS – Group stage

Records and statistics

Batting Records
Most runs[16] Binod Bhandari (Army) 1,824
Highest average[17] Arjun Kumal (Gandaki) 47.52[h]
Best strike rate[18] Aasif Sheikh (APF) 104.07[h]
Highest score[19] Aasif Sheikh (APF) 208 vs Madhesh (13 April 2026)
Highest partnership[20] Subash Khakurel & Pradeep Airee (APF) 231 vs Province 2 (4 June 2018)
Most hundreds[21] Binod Bhandari (Army) 5
Most fifties (and over)[22] Rohit Paudel (APF/Army/Western) 12
Most runs in a series[23] Arjun Kumal (Gandaki) 504( 2026)
Bowling Records
Most wickets[24] Lalit Rajbanshi (Police) 125
Lowest average[25] Lalit Rajbanshi (Police) 11.36[i]
Best strike rate[26] Lalit Rajbanshi (Police) 19.42[i]
Best economy rate[27] Bhuvan Karki (APF) 3.27[i]
Best bowling figures[28] Hemant Dhami (Sudurpaschim) 7/14 vs Bagmati (5 April 2026)
Most five-wickets-in-an-innings[29] Lalit Rajbanshi (Police) 14
Most wickets in a series[30] Lalit Rajbanshi (Police) 41 (2025)
Fielding
Most dismissals (wicket-keeper)[31] Raju Rijal (Sudurpashchim/Army) 47
Most catches (fielder)[32] Sandeep Jora (APF) 41
Team records
Highest total[33] APF 390/5 vs Madhesh (13 April 2026)
Lowest total[34] Koshi 25 vs Gandaki (21 January 2024)

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 The trophy was shared after the final ended in a no result.
  1. ↑ Formerly Province No. 1, renamed from 2024 season
  2. ↑ Formerly Province No. 2, renamed from 2022 season
  3. ↑ Formerly Province No. 3, renamed from 2021 season
  4. ↑ Formerly Province No. 4, renamed from 2019 season
  5. ↑ Formerly Province No. 5, renamed from 2021 season
  6. ↑ Formerly Province No. 6, renamed from 2019 season
  7. ↑ Formerly Province No. 7, renamed from 2019 season
  8. 1 2 Minimum 20 innings played
  9. 1 2 3 Minimum 1,000 balls bowled

References

  1. ↑ "Cricket Records in Prime Minister Cup most career runs". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  2. ↑ "Cricket Records in Prime Minister Cup most career wickets". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  3. ↑ "PM Cup cricket from May 23". The Himalayan Times. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  4. ↑ "PM Cup from May 27". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  5. ↑ "PM Cup cricket from May 23". The Himalayan Times. Kathmandu. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  6. ↑ "Prime Minister Cup 2074 : Army and Police share the trophy as the final match got washed out". Wicket Nepal. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  7. ↑ "Rain plays spoilsport as Army, Police share cup". The Himalayan Times. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  8. ↑ "जय ट्रफी एलाइट कपमा चार टोली" [Four teams in Jai Trophy Elite Cup]. Gorkhapatra (in Nepali). Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  9. ↑ "CAN Expands Number of Teams for Jay Trophy Elite Cup". Ratopati. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
  10. ↑ "PM Cup 2026: Records tumble as Sudurpashchim reach historic final". The Kathmandu Post. 16 April 2026. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  11. ↑ "The Cricket Association of Nepal unveils cricket calendar 2024". Cricnepal. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  12. ↑ "प्रधानमन्त्री कप काठमाडौं र भैरहवामा हुने - हाम्रो खेलकुद". HamroKhelkud (in Nepali). 12 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  13. 1 2 Ghimire, Manoj (8 June 2017). "Prime Minister Cup 2074 : Army and Police share the trophy as the final match got washed out". WicketNepal. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  14. ↑ Republica. "Armed Police Force lifts PM Cup". My Republica. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  15. ↑ "Snail-paced Dhamala hands Police Prime Minister Cup". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  16. ↑ "Prime Minister Cup Trophy batting most runs career". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  17. ↑ "Prime Minister Cup Trophy batting highest career batting average". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  18. ↑ "Prime Minister Cup Trophy batting highest career strike rate". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  19. ↑ "Prime Minister Cup Trophy batting most runs innings". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  20. ↑ "Prime Minister Cup Trophy fow highest partnerships for any wicket". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  21. ↑ "Prime Minister Cup Trophy batting most hundreds career". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  22. ↑ "Prime Minister Cup Trophy batting most fifties career". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  23. ↑ "Most runs in a series For Prime Minister Cup". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  24. ↑ "Prime Minister Cup Trophy bowling most wickets career". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  25. ↑ "Prime Minister Cup Trophy bowling best career bowling average". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  26. ↑ "Prime Minister Cup Trophy bowling best career strike rate". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  27. ↑ "Prime Minister Cup Trophy bowling best career economy rate". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  28. ↑ "Prime Minister Cup Trophy bowling best figures innings". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  29. ↑ "Prime Minister Cup Trophy bowling most 5wi career". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  30. ↑ "Prime Minister Cup Trophy bowling most wickets series". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  31. ↑ "Prime Minister Cup Trophy keeping most dismissals career". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  32. ↑ "Prime Minister Cup Trophy fielding most catches career". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  33. ↑ "Prime Minister Cup Trophy team highest innings totals". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  34. ↑ "Prime Minister Cup Trophy team lowest innings totals". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
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