T20 cricket is a money-spinning business model that every cricket governing body wants to implement. Last week, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) announced the country's first-ever official 20-over league title, Nepal T20. Even before the event's commencement, it is facing opposition from the organizers of the Everest Premier League (EPL) T20.
The owners, Everest Premier League Private Ltd, and all six franchises have filed a writ petition in Nepal's Supreme Court on Thursday, asking for a stay order over the planned CAN's league.
According to Kathmandu Post, EPL's statement read, "EPL and all franchises have unanimously decided to seek appropriate legal recourse as per the prevailing laws of Nepal. Therefore, a writ petition has been filed before the Supreme Court of Nepal, praying for a stay order against the erroneous decision of CAN. We have full faith and humbly believe that the judiciary will grant us appropriate remedy."
EPL owners also want CAN to do away with their deal with Seven3Sports, which handles the commercial and strategic side of the tournament. The event management firm is based in India.
The planned Nepal T20 League will commence on September 24 and end on October 22. The premier governing body for cricket in Nepal has made it clear that they will not sanction any other T20 league in the country.
The EPL T20 League started in 2016 and is about to begin its fifth edition in November.
In their statement, all concerned parties in the EPL have stated that they will boycott all cricketing events organized by CAN if their league is not approved.
"Availing the services of a foreign company by discretely entering into a private agreement and neglecting the prevalent laws of Nepal not only raises numerous questions about the entire decision-making process and the motive of CAN, but is also non-transparent, arbitrary and deeply encroaches upon our legal and constitutional rights," the press release said.
EPL has seen foreign players like Shahid Afridi, Upul Tharanga, Paul Stirling, Sikander Raza, and Tamim Iqbal, amongst others, participate over the years.