Niroshan Dickwella to Continue Playing for Lumbini Lions

August 13, Kathmandu – The Nepal Premier League (NPL) champion, Lumbini Lions, have retained Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella for the upcoming season.

Dickwella played a crucial role in leading Lumbini to the title last season and will continue representing the champion team in the next season.

He joined Lumbini after the group stage in the previous season, at a time when the team had lost three out of their first four matches and was in a critical position. Following his inclusion, Lumbini won all six remaining matches, eventually securing the championship.

In the six matches he played for Lumbini, Dickwella scored 137 runs at a strike rate exceeding 122, with a batting average of 34.25, the highest among the team’s batsmen. However, Rohit Paudel and Darcy Short were the team’s top run-scorers with 276 and 256 runs respectively.

Lumbini Lions chairman Ishwar Jisi expressed his happiness in welcoming Dickwella back to the team.

“We are thrilled to welcome Niroshan Dickwella back to the Lumbini Lions. Last season, he not only delivered outstanding individual performances but also played a key role in uniting the team. He is a champion player, having not lost a single match while playing for Lumbini Lions. We expect him to continue this vital role in the upcoming season,” Jisi stated.

In the Qualifier 2 match last season, Dickwella scored 29 runs off 22 balls, contributing to Lumbini’s total of 134 runs for 8 wickets, a score they successfully defended.

He also remained unbeaten with 29 runs off 22 balls against Biratnagar Kings in the group stage. Against Pokhara Avengers, he scored 37 runs off 22 balls, his highest individual score in the NPL.

In the final, Dickwella remained unbeaten on 11 runs off 12 balls.

The 33-year-old Dickwella recently played in Sri Lanka’s Lanka Premier League representing Dambulla Sixers. Internationally, he has represented Sri Lanka in 54 Tests, 55 One Day Internationals, and 28 Twenty20 Internationals.