DRS, official T20 status and a bigger Kirtipur: what's new in NPL Season 3

The third Nepal Premier League starts on Monday 26 October at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, and runs to Saturday 21 November. A few things are different this time.

DRS, for the first time

After arguments over umpiring in the first two seasons, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) is bringing in the Decision Review System.

• LBW reviews use ball tracking to show whether the ball would have hit the stumps.
• Edge detection and sound-wave technology check for a nick.
• Video reviews also cover run-outs, stumpings, front-foot no-balls, wides judged on height, and six measurements.
• Each team gets two unsuccessful reviews per innings.

CAN secretary Paras Khadka put the cost at around Rs 15 million to Rs 20 million, shared between CAN and the eight franchises. Reviews are expected to add about 30 minutes to a game, and the schedule has been stretched by that much.

ICC sanction, so the numbers count

The ICC sanctioned the third season on 16 October. Every match has official T20 status, so runs and wickets go on players' career records. The sanction covers this season only. It doesn't carry over to future editions on its own.

It also means the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit will be watching the venue, the dressing rooms and the teams.

Overseas rules

• Every overseas player, retired ones included, needs a no-objection certificate from their home board.
• Anyone who played in an unauthorised private league in the six months before the NPL can't take part.
• Each squad can have six to eight overseas players.
• A playing XI can have no more than four, and must include at least one player from an ICC Associate nation.

A bigger Kirtipur

The ground has about 2,000 more seats, a covered stand, an LED scoreboard and digital boundary boards. There are new player dugouts, a media centre, a family zone and better toilets. The work is reported to be finished.

We'll find out from Monday how much of this makes a difference on the field.