10th Edition of Pakistan-Nepal Friendship T20 Cricket Tournament Kicks Off in Kathmandu
Kathmandu – The Embassy of Pakistan in Kathmandu hosted the Inaugural Ceremony of the 10th Edition of the Pakistan-Nepal Friendship T20 Cricket Tournament-2025 today, celebrating a decade of fostering goodwill and collaboration through sports.
The event was graced by prominent figures, including Honorable Ms. Subarna Shrestha, Executive Board Member of the National Sports Council, Nepal; Mr. Chaturananda Baidhya, Vice President of the Nepal Olympic Committee; Mr. C.P. Mainali, former Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal; Mr. Binaya Raj Pandey, former President of the Cricket Association of Nepal; Mr. Yubanath Lamsal, former Ambassador of Nepal to Denmark; Dr. Manju Ratna Shakya, Chairman of the Nepal-Pakistan Friendship and Cultural Association; and Mr. Suman Pokharel, Deputy CEO of Global IME Bank Ltd. The event also witnessed the presence of cricket enthusiasts and friends of Pakistan from various sectors, alongside members of the media.
During the opening ceremony, Ms. Subarna Shrestha commended the Embassy’s consistent efforts in organizing the annual event and emphasized the power of sports, particularly cricket, in fostering connections between the youth of Nepal and Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Nepal, H.E. Abrar H. Hashmi, highlighted cricket’s unique ability to transcend boundaries, uniting people through a shared passion and nurturing camaraderie and teamwork. Ambassador Hashmi extended his best wishes to all participating teams and expressed gratitude to the distinguished guests for their unwavering support. He also launched the Nepal-Pakistan Youth Council, a new initiative aimed at strengthening bilateral ties through youth engagement.
The ceremony also welcomed Pakistan’s Shooting Ball Team, who recently achieved runner-up status at the Asian Shooting Ball Championship held in Kathmandu. Ambassador Hashmi applauded their performance and congratulated them on their success.
This year’s tournament features twelve club-level cricket teams competing in a nine-day event, culminating in the final match and trophy distribution ceremony on February 16, 2025. The matches will be streamed live on Nepalese sports channel Action Sports and various social media platforms.