After being delayed multiple times, the fourth edition of Everest Premier League, known as EPL 2021 is all set to start from 25 September 2021 to 9 October 2021 on Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground. Since the first edition of the tournament started in 2016 with six teams participating, EPL has been becoming more and more popular in Nepal.
The fourth edition of Everest Premier League(EPL 2021) is going to be more popular because of the participation of some big international Cricketers in the Everest Premier League. The foreign players who are going to take part in EPL 2021 aren’t ordinary players. These are some big names in International Cricket.
In this post, we are going to tell you the names of foreign players who are confirmed to play in the EPL 2021, and the names of foreign players who may also participate in EPL 2021.
12 Confirmed Foreign Players In Everest Premier League [EPL 2021]
There is 12 total foreign Cricketer who is confirmed to play in the Everest Premier League 2021. These confirmations are made by players as well as the teams.
1. Shahid Afridi, Pakistan
The first and the biggest name in this list is obviously the legendary Pakistani all-around cricketer Shahid Afridi. Shahid Afridi is all set to play for Kathmandu Kings XI in the fourth edition of the Everest Premier League. On July 26, 2021, Kathmandu Kings XI announced that Shahid Afridi will be going to play for their team. It will be very exciting to watch BOOM BOOM AFRIDI in action in Nepal.
2. Carlos Brathwaite, West Indies
The hero of the final of the 2016 Cricket World Cup final Carlos Brathwaite from West Indies is all set to play in the Everest Premier League 2021. On August 9, 2021, the organizers of EPL announced that Carlos Brathwaite is also going to play EPL 2021. Though it is not announced yet which team he is going to represent, it will be great to see a player like him seeing playing Cricket in Nepal.
3. Sohaib Malik, Pakistan
On the day when Carlos Brathwaite was announced to participate in EPL 2021, another legendary Pakistani Cricketer was also announced to be part of EPL 2021. And that Cricketer is Sohaib Malik. Sohaib Malik has always been one of the popular international Cricketers, and it will be a treat for fans to watch him playing in EPL 2021. It is also not announced yet for which team he is going to play in EPL. But this announcement will also be going to make soon by the organizers.
4. Danish Aziz, Pakistan
Danish Aziz is another Pakistani Cricketer who is going to participate in Everest Premier League. He is not a big name in international Cricket. He had made his international debut for Pakistan this year in April against South Africa. He is signed by Chitwan Tigers for the Everest Premier League 2021.
5. Dinesh Chandimal, Sri Lanka
Another big name in the list of foreign players in the Everest Premier League is the former captain of Sri Lanka-Dinesh Chandimal. He is going to represent Bhairahawa Gladiators in the upcoming edition of the Everest Premier League. Bhairahawa Gladiators announced this by organizing a press conference on Thursday, August 12. Dinesh Chandimal expressed his excitement by saying “I am so excited to visit the beautiful country of Nepal and I am very much looking forward to a great Everest Premier League season with the Gladiators,” through a video message.
6. Mohammad Shahzad, Afghanistan
Last year, On January 29, 2020, Chitwan Tigers had signed Mohammad Shahzad, the explosive Afghan Cricketer to play in the Everest Premier League. This Aghani explosive wicket-keeper batsman is all set to play for Chitwan Tigers in the fourth edition of the Everest Premier League.
7. Alex Blake, England
One of the brutal hitters from England, Alex Blake has been signed by Lalitpur Patriots. On August 25, 2021, it was announced that he is going to represent Lalitpur Patriots in the upcoming season of the EPL. Though Alex Blake hasn’t played for England national team, he has been a popular name in the Kent County Cricket Club. It will be exciting to watch a player from England playing in Nepal.
8. Seekkuge Prasanna, Sri Lanka
After Dinesh Chandimal, Seekkuge Prasanna is the 2nd Sri Lankan player who is going to be a part of EPL 2021. He is a Sri Lankan all-rounder cricketer who is best known for playing aggressive cricket at the late overs in the ODIs. Besides his batting, he is also known for being one of the finest leg-break spinners in Sri Lanka. Seekkuge Prasanna is going to play for Chitwan Tigers in EPL 2021.
9. Karim Janat, Afghanistan
Another Afghani Cricketer that is going to be a part of EPL 2021 is Karim Janat. Karim Jannat is a right-arm medium-fast bowler who has played only one ODI for Afghanistan, but he has been a prominent bowler for Afghanistan in T20Is. He is signed by the Chitwan Tigers for Everest Premier League 2021.
10. Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe
If you follow international cricket for a long time, then the name Sikandar Raza must be a very familiar name to you. Sikandar Raza is one of the best Zimbabwe all-rounders who is more known for his class batting. He has been representing Zimbabwe in all formats of Cricket. He is all set to represent Biratnagar Warriors in the upcoming edition of EPL.
11. Upul Tharanga, Sri Lanka
Popular Sri Lankan cricketer, as well as formal captain of Sri Lanka Cricket Team Upul Tharanga, is also confirmed to be part of EPL 2021. He is going to play for Bhairahawa Gladiators.
12. Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh
The legendary and one the very popular cricketer of Bangladesh Tamim Iqbal is also confirmed to play in the Everest Premier League 2021. He is also going to play for Bhairahawa Gladiators in EPL 2021. It will be great to see big players like him playing in EPL.
Foreign Players Who May Also Take Part In EPL 2021
These are the foreign players who were confirmed to play in the Everest Premier League earlier. But due to the multiple delays of the tournament, things seem changed a bit. And the chances of these players playing in EPL 2021 is 50-50. Organizers of EPL are though saying to try their best to bring these players to EPL.
1. Dwayne Smith, West Indies
Last year, On January 25, 2020, former West Indies Cricketer and former star player of Chennai Super Kings in IPL Dwayne Smith was announced to play for Bhairahawa Gladiators in the 4th edition of EPL. But since then, there have been no updates on him.
2. Kevin O’Brien, Ireland
Even playing for Ireland, Kevin O’Brien is a cricketer who doesn’t need more introduction in the world of Cricket. Every cricket lover must be remembering his magical inning against England in Banglore during the 2011 Cricket World Cup. Kevin O’Brien was signed for Kathmandu Kings XI back in 2018 for the 4th edition of EPL.
3. Upul Tharanga
Sri Lankan Opener Upul Tharanga was signed by Lalitpur Patriots for the 4th EPL edition on January 27, 2020. There have been no updates of him paying in EPL 2021 by now.
4. Chris Gayle
The greatest T20 batsman of all time and the sensational Chris Gayle was signed by Pokhara Rhinos on January 30, 2020, to play in the EPL which was supposed to start on March 14 last year. It would have been dream come true for many cricket fans seeing him play in the EPL if everything had gone right last year. Let’s wish to see Chris Gayle playing in the EPL 2021.
5. Hashim Amla
Last year, in January the former South African legendary opener Hashim Amla will be a part of the Everest Premier League. It wasn’t announced for which team he was going to play. Due to the reschedule of EPL, we couldn’t see him playing in EPL.
These are the foreign players who are confirmed to play in the Everest Premier League 2021, and the players who may play in Everest Premier League 2021. New names are adding to the list of foreign players who are confirmed to play in EPL 2021. We will keep updating the names as soon as a new player will be announced.