Cricket
Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been announced as a special guest for Himalaya Sports’ coverage of the third Nepal Premier League, scheduled later this month. Onlinekhabar reported the broadcaster’s announcement on October 16, with its publication metadata showing 8:19 am Nepal time. The appointment concerns the broadcaster’s analysis programming, not a playing contract with an NPL franchise. It adds a familiar international cricket figure to coverage aimed at audiences following Nepal’s domestic league.
The named programme is Red Bull Cricket Live in Association with Bajaj Pulsar, covering discussion before and after matches. The report says Akhtar will discuss his career, technical aspects of cricket and the potential of the Nepali game. It also describes planned cricket interactions and fan meetings during a Nepal visit. Specific venues, attendance arrangements and appearance times were not supplied. Those plans should not be treated as an invitation to a confirmed public event on a particular day.
Akhtar’s background helps explain the sporting interest in the announcement. An ICC report published on March 17, 2011 records his international debut in 1997 and his decision to retire after that year’s World Cup. At that point his record included 178 wickets in 46 Tests, 247 in 163 One Day Internationals and 19 in 15 Twenty20 Internationals. These are career figures from international cricket, not performances in Nepal or evidence that he will take the field during the coming NPL season.
The ICC’s historical coverage also documents his pace. Its account of the 2003 World Cup lists a delivery against England at 161.3 kilometres per hour, ahead of Brett Lee’s 160.7 in the same group stage comparison. A later ICC World Cup profile lists Akhtar across the 1999, 2003 and 2011 editions, with 30 wickets in 19 appearances. That record provides relevant background for a former fast bowler discussing the game. It does not establish what he will say about any current Nepali player, nor imply a coaching appointment.
The league itself is scheduled from October 26 to November 21. Separate Kathmandu Post reporting on October 7 described preparations at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. CAN said it was working on management and facilities for spectators, players and journalists, including problems reported during previous editions. The stated aim was to finish remaining work by Dashain. That earlier account is useful context for the approaching tournament, but is not an October 16 inspection confirming that every planned improvement has been completed.
The same venue report said organisers considered the international calendar, other franchise competitions and overseas player availability when selecting the period between Dashain and Tihar. It described expectations of large crowds and efforts to make movement into and out of the ground smoother. Television analysis and venue preparation are therefore different parts of the same tournament build up. The broadcaster’s appointment does not change the published tournament dates or demonstrate a new match schedule.
As analysis, the addition creates a potential point of interest for viewers who recognise Akhtar from international cricket and want discussion alongside live play. Its significance is the announced broadcast role, not a prediction of audience size or tournament results. Fans can follow later notices for programme details and any separately confirmed appearances. No association with an unrelated brand or endorsement by Akhtar follows from this news.
Source publication date: 2026-10-16. Event or reporting period: 2026-10-26 to 2026-11-21.
Sources:Onlinekhabar, October 16, 2026 at 08:19 NPT, broadcast appointment report · ICC, March 17, 2011, Shoaib Akhtar retirement and career record · ICC historical 2003 World Cup speed report, page dated April 6, 2010 · ICC, September 16, 2014, World Cup fast bowling profile · The Kathmandu Post, October 7, 2026, TU ground preparation and tournament dates
Source: GPT News Feed
