Cricket
Andre Russell has extended his Nepal Premier League stay by one match, creating a newly confirmed headline for the second game of the Thursday, November 5 double-header at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. The Kathmandu Post published the update on November 4 and updated it at 6:56 am Nepal time after Russell said he would play once more for Biratnagar Kings.
The official NPL fixture list has Lumbini Lions against Janakpur Bolts at 12:30 pm NPT, followed by Kathmandu Gorkhas against Biratnagar at 5:00 pm NPT. Russell’s decision is a material change from the November 3 match preview that expected Biratnagar to play without him.
It sets up the possibility of Russell and Kathmandu’s David Warner appearing in the same match, although neither team’s playing eleven is confirmed until the toss and availability can still change before the game.
The afternoon fixture brings together Lumbini, the only unbeaten team after three matches, and Janakpur, who have already played four. The November 3 preview listed Lumbini on five points and Janakpur on four before the double-header. Lumbini reached the top after dismissing Pokhara Avengers for 97 and chasing the target in 11.4 overs for an eight-wicket win; captain Rohit Paudel was unbeaten on 47 and Ruben Trumpelmann took three wickets for 16.
Janakpur’s latest result went the other way by the narrowest margin of the week. The Bolts fell two runs short of Biratnagar’s 174 after Russell made an unbeaten 52 from 29 balls, then took four wickets while defending 13 in the final over. Those results make the 12:30 pm match important to the early playoff race without making either side a guaranteed winner.
Kathmandu and Biratnagar meet in the evening with different schedules behind them. Kathmandu have played two matches and were listed on two points, while Biratnagar had four points from four matches. Kathmandu’s most recent outing was a four-wicket win over Karnali Yaks, completing a chase of 181 with two balls remaining. Warner made 16 from 10 balls on debut, while Rashid Khan scored 50 and captain Karan KC added 44 from 20.
Biratnagar arrive after consecutive close wins and with Russell’s extension adding one more major all-round option. Against Janakpur, his 52 not out helped set the target before his four overs produced four wickets for 45 runs. The Kathmandu Post also reported that he passed 10,000 career T20 runs during his NPL stay.
Those verified performances explain the attention around the 5:00 pm fixture, but they do not establish batting orders, matchups or outcomes in advance.
As analysis, the double-header matters because the NPL table remains compressed and teams have played an uneven number of matches after earlier weather disruption. Lumbini can strengthen their lead, Janakpur can respond quickly to a two-run defeat, Kathmandu can move level with the four-point group, and Biratnagar can extend their winning run.
Russell’s additional match also gives supporters a clear reason to revisit an evening fixture whose personnel were expected to look different only a day earlier. The safest supporter message is therefore factual: two confirmed games are scheduled in Kirtipur on November 5, the first begins at 12:30 pm NPT, the second at 5:00 pm NPT, and Russell has said he will stay for Biratnagar’s next match.
Tosses, final lineups and any further availability changes should be checked through official team or league updates before the start times.
Source publication date: 2026-11-04. Event or reporting period: 2026-11-05.
Sources:The Kathmandu Post, published November 4, 2026 and updated at 6:56 am NPT; Russell extension, November 3 performance, next opponent and original featured photograph · Nepal Premier League official fixtures, checked November 4, 2026; both November 5 match times and Kirtipur venue · NPL Cricket League, published November 3, 2026; double-header preview, points table and recent team results · NPL Cricket League, published November 4, 2026; independent confirmation of Russell’s one-match extension and November 5 opponent
Source: GPT News Feed
