The Prime Minister (PM) Cup women’s national tournament 2080 is set to kick off tomorrow (Thursday). Seven Province’s team and one departmental side – APF will compete in the tournament set to be played in a T20 format.
The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has already announced the fixtures of the tournament and it will be played from the 21st of December to January 3. The tournament will be played in a round-robin format with the playoffs, and a final, for the first time in history.
All participating teams have already revealed their squad. Let’s take a brief look at the every squad:
Koshi Province
Under the leadership of former national captain Rubina Chhetri, Koshi boasts a strong team. They have reached the finals in the last three editions of the Women’s PM Cup, clinching one title in the process.
Kajol Shrestha and Apsari Begam are the standout batters whereas Sangita Rai and Sabnam Rai are the experienced bowlers for the team. Koshi is known for the ability to produce a new star.
Sudurpaschim Province
Sudurpaschim are coming into the tournament as defending champions. They were the winners of the previous edition held in Itahari.
The team will be captained by the veteran player Ritu Kanoujiya, with Bindu Rawal serving as the deputy. They have a strong group of players, positioning them as strong contenders for this edition as well. However, the absence of their star player, Kabita Kunwar, will be a significant loss.
Bagmati Province
Bagmati Province Cricket Association did their best to keep its players busy and ready before the PM Cup. They will be looking for a positive result this time around.
Ashmina Karmacharya, the speedster, captains the team, which includes spinners Manisha Upadhyaya, Sony Pakhrin, and Khusi Dangol, all of whom have experience playing for Nepal. Their batting department seems to be a little issue.
Karnali Province
Karnali Province are yet to book a victory in the last three editions of the tournament. Under the leadership of Kiran Kumari Kunwar this time, they aim to break the streak.
Armed Police Force (APF) Club
APF is the lone departmental team in the tournament. While they have been a dominant force in women’s cricket for a long period, recently, Sudurpaschim and Koshi are giving them a tough challenge.
Sita Rana Magar leads a team filled with standout players. The return of Karuna Bhandari adds strength to their spin department, while Sonu Khadka, Rekha Rawal, and Indu Barma serve as formidable pacers. In the batting department, Jyoti Pandey, Mamta Chaudhary, Rajmati Airee, Indu, and Sita are known for their explosive performances.
Madhesh Province
Madhesh Province is excelling in grassroots and local-level cricket, as evident from their recent performances in domestic matches. Madhesh women were the semifinalists in the previous edition, highlighting their strong presence.
Under the leadership of Kabita Gautam, the team gains strength from the inclusion of Puja Mahato. Anticipations are high for another remarkable edition from them.
Lumbini Province
Lumbini Province reached the semifinals in the 2078 edition but fell short of securing a spot in the top four in 2079. This time, they have an eye in the semifinals again.
Saraswati GM will lead the side with Kritika Marasini as a deputy. Laxmi Chaudhary and young Aashma Pulami are players to look out for.
Gandaki Province
While Gandaki Province may lack a prominent star player in their lineup, their teamwork has the potential to surprise any team in the tournament.
Kusum Godar will lead the team. Suman Khatiwada is the star player in the team.
