Biratnagar Kings open NPL title bid while police probe Pizzfire owner's death
Biratnagar seized attention on October 27, 2026 on two distinct fronts: its cricket franchise opens the third Nepal Premier League campaign against Chitwan Rhinos at the TU International Cricket Ground, while law enforcement probes the suspicious death of Pizzfire Restaurant operator Manoj Khatri. The Kings enter the tournament with their most formidable overseas contingent yet, pairing West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell and Sri Lankan batter Charith Asalanka with captain Sandeep Lamichhane to mount a serious bid for the city's first NPL title.
Police detain accountant in Pizzfire Restaurant owner's death probe
Morang police have taken a 27-year-old woman into custody in connection with the death of Manoj Khatri, the 51-year-old operator of Pizzfire Restaurant in Biratnagar. The arrested woman is Indu, also known as Khilina Dahal, from Gauradaha in Jhapa district. She worked at the restaurant for four to five years, managing its financial transactions and accounting records. Khatri's family filed a written complaint against her, leading to her arrest and a five-day court-ordered remand. SP Kavit Katuwal, Chief of the District Police Office, Morang, confirmed that authorities are pursuing two lines of inquiry: potential irregularities in the restaurant's financial accounts and fluctuations in the personal relationship between Khatri and Dahal. Dahal has acknowledged managing all of the restaurant's accounts but firmly denies any financial wrongdoing, blackmail, or applying pressure on Khatri. She stated that Khatri had been consuming excessive alcohol for approximately ten days before his death. Khatri, a resident of Biratnagar Metropolitan City-3, left home on his scooter at 1 PM on a Friday, lost contact with his family, and was later found hanging from a tree in a jungle. Investigators are conducting technical examinations of mobile phones and digital devices belonging to both individuals to determine the full circumstances of his death. [2]
🎉 Russell and Asalanka headline Biratnagar Kings' revamped NPL squad
Biratnagar Kings are entering the third edition of the Nepal Premier League with their most ambitious squad to date, targeting a first title after finishing third in the previous season. The franchise, representing Koshi Province in eastern Nepal, has assembled a potent mix of international and domestic talent under the captaincy of Nepal's ODI skipper Sandeep Lamichhane. West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell and Sri Lankan top-order batter Charith Asalanka headline the overseas signings, joining a retained core that includes Lokesh Bam, Basir Ahmed, Pratish GC, Narayan Joshi, and Subash Bhandari. The Kings' progress across NPL editions has been consistent. In the inaugural season they finished sixth after just two victories, with former New Zealand opener Martin Guptill their headline signing. The second edition brought a stronger overseas contingent, including Guptill, former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, and fast bowler Marchant de Lange, lifting the franchise into the top three and through to the playoffs. Now in their third season, the addition of Russell, one of T20 cricket's most feared all-rounders, alongside Asalanka's reliable batting, represents the franchise's most serious title challenge yet, raising expectations across Koshi Province. [3]
🎉 Kings face Chitwan in NPL opener with 48-run deficit to avenge
The third Nepal Premier League season opens with two matches on Tuesday, October 27, with Biratnagar Kings facing Chitwan Rhinos at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur at 12:30 PM. The second match of the day at the same venue sees Karnali Yaks play Janakpur Bolts from 4:30 PM. Historical context from the previous edition sharpens the Biratnagar-Chitwan encounter: in their sole league meeting last season, Chitwan defeated Biratnagar by 48 runs. Chitwan batted first and posted 174 for five in 20 overs, with experienced batter Ravi Bopara scoring his third consecutive half-century of the tournament to set a challenging total. Biratnagar were dismissed for just 126 in 16.5 overs, unable to chase the target. Despite that result, Biratnagar had a strong overall second edition, earning 10 points from seven league matches through five wins and two losses, finishing second in the standings and qualifying for the playoffs. Chitwan ended that edition seventh with four points, from two wins and five losses. Both teams enter this opener with contrasting motivations: Biratnagar is determined to reverse the earlier scoreline, while Chitwan will draw confidence from its prior success against the same opponents and attempt to repeat that dominance early in the new campaign. [7]
Sources: [2] Ratopati · [3] OnlineKhabar English News · [7] Ratopati