Kathmandu. Nepal Premier League (NPL) franchise team Pokhara Avengers has appointed former Indian international cricketer and 2007 ICC Men's T20 World Cup winner Irfan Pathan as its official cricket ambassador.
Before the start of the third season of NPL, Pokhara Avengers announced on Friday that Pathan has been appointed as the cricket ambassador. The franchise believes that Pathan's experience, legacy and passion for cricket, who has made his own identity in international cricket, will help to further expand the team's identity and popularity.
Former Indian left-arm fast bowler and all-rounder Pathan was a key member of the team when India won the ICC Men's T20 World Cup for the first time in 2007. Due to his ability to contribute in both bowling and batting, he made a special identity in international cricket.
The 41-year-old Pathan has played 29 Tests, 120 ODIs and 24 T20Is for India. He has scored 1005 runs with 1 century in Tests and has taken 100 wickets.
Similarly, he has taken 173 wickets while scoring 1,544 runs in ODIs. In T20Is, he scored 172 runs and took 28 wickets.
With the appointment of Pathan, Pokhara Avengers aims to further strengthen its brand identity and relationship with cricket fans in the third season of NPL. It is expected that his international experience and popularity will help increase the interest of the world cricket community towards Nepali cricket.
Pokhara Avengers has welcomed the world champion Pathan to Nepal and its team and wished him all the best for his new role.
Pokhara Avengers, which is preparing for the third edition of the NPL, has already appointed former Sri Lankan star spinner Ajantha Mendis as the head coach and Bangladeshi famous all-rounder Shakib Al Hashan as a foreign player. Mendis has come to Nepal and started training the team. Sri Lankan all-rounder Dhananjaya Rakshasa has been retained in the team for the second season in a row.
After world champion Irfan Pathan was appointed as cricket ambassador, the discussion of Pokhara has increased even more.
Pokhara has continued with Sagar Dhakal, Arjun Kumal, Bipin Khatri, Akash Chand, Kiran Thagunna and Dinesh Kharel along with marquee player Kushal Bhurtel. Arjun Gharti Magar, Vivek Ranamgar, Sudeep Aryal, Sunny BK, Bipin Acharya and Prateek Pokharel have been added to the team through the same auction.
Prioritizing the identification of local talent to the combination of experienced national and international players, Pokhara Avengers has set a goal of winning the title by building a strong team for the third edition of the NPL.
