Where the Yaks stand
Two wins, three defeats, and a net run rate of minus 0.846 — that is Karnali's season after five matches. The Yaks opened with back-to-back wins, 19 runs over Janakpur Bolts and four wickets over Biratnagar Kings, and for a week they looked like a playoff side. Since then, Kathmandu Gorkhas beat them by four wickets, Sudurpaschim Royals by 39 runs, and Pokhara Avengers by 63 runs.
The table is tight enough that none of it is fatal yet. Chitwan Rhinos sit fourth on five points, and three teams — Janakpur Bolts, Biratnagar Kings and Karnali — sit on four. What separates them is net run rate, and Karnali's minus 0.846 is the worst in the league. Two wins would take the Yaks to eight points, which is probably enough — but only if Biratnagar, who can also reach eight, drop a point somewhere.
| # | Team | P | W | L | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Chitwan Rhinos | 5 | 2 | 2 | 5 | +0.009 |
| 5 | Janakpur Bolts | 6 | 2 | 4 | 4 | -0.303 |
| 6 | Biratnagar Kings | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -0.820 |
| 7 | Karnali Yaks | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -0.846 |
| 8 | Pokhara Avengers | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | -0.707 |
Full table: NPL Points Table. A win is worth 2 points, a no result 1, and the top four qualify for the playoffs.
Results so far
| Match | Date | Fixture & scores | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Tue 27 Oct | Karnali Yaks 132/9 vs Janakpur Bolts 113 | Karnali Yaks won by 19 runs |
| 6 | Thu 29 Oct | Karnali Yaks 187/6 vs Biratnagar Kings 186/7 | Karnali Yaks won by 4 wickets |
| 10 | Mon 2 Nov | Kathmandu Gorkhas 181/6 vs Karnali Yaks 180/6 | Kathmandu Gorkhas won by 4 wickets |
| 16 | Fri 6 Nov | Sudurpaschim Royals 176/6 vs Karnali Yaks 137/7 | Sudurpaschim Royals won by 39 runs |
| 19 | Mon 9 Nov | Pokhara Avengers 217/3 vs Karnali Yaks 154/10 | Pokhara Avengers won by 63 runs |
The pattern is in the batting. Karnali posted 187 against Biratnagar and 180 against Kathmandu, then managed 137 and 154 in the last two games. The 217 they conceded to Pokhara is the biggest total any side has given up this season — and the 63-run margin is the heaviest defeat of the season so far. Every result: NPL Results.
The squad
Captain: Sompal Kami. Head coach: Gyanendra Malla. The list below covers the 13 players verified for Season 3 before the tournament.
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Sompal Kami (captain) | Bowler |
| Pawan Sarraf | All-rounder |
| Gulshan Kumar Jha | All-rounder |
| Dipendra Rawat | All-rounder |
| Diwan Pun | All-rounder |
| Unish Bikram Singh Thakuri | All-rounder |
| Deepak Dumre | Wicketkeeper |
| Sachin Sharma | Batter |
| Shubh Kansakar | Batter |
| Bipin Prasad Sharma | Bowler |
| Nandan Yadav | Bowler |
| Surya Tamang | Bowler |
| Yuvraj Khatri | Bowler |
Six more players have appeared for Karnali this season — Ariful Islam, David Miller, Mark Watt, Hussain Talat, Akbar Ali and Jishan Alam — but they are not in the pre-season verified list, so they are not listed as squad members here. Their match figures appear in the section below.
Who has delivered
Ariful Islam leads Karnali's batting with 143 runs from five matches, including 12 sixes. Pawan Sarraf has 140, and the two of them have carried the top order. David Miller has played only twice but made 100 runs, including 93 — the highest individual score by a Karnali batter this season.
Sompal Kami has done the most with the ball: nine wickets from five matches, joint-third in the season's wicket race, and 93 runs with the bat, including an unbeaten 62. Hussain Talat has six wickets, and Mark Watt and Nandan Yadav have five each.
What comes next
| Match | Date & time | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Thu 12 Nov, 4:30 PM NST (3:45 PM PKT, 10:45 AM UTC) | Karnali Yaks vs Lumbini Lions | TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur |
| 27 | Sun 15 Nov, 12:30 PM NST (11:45 AM PKT, 6:45 AM UTC) | Chitwan Rhinos vs Karnali Yaks | TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur |
Win both and Karnali reach eight points. That is likely to be enough: only Kathmandu Gorkhas and Sudurpaschim Royals are already on eight, and Lumbini Lions can reach nine. The one team that could match them is Biratnagar Kings, who can also reach eight — and who sit a fraction ahead on net run rate as things stand. Lose one, and six points leaves the Yaks needing favours from almost every other result. Full list: NPL Schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Karnali Yaks sit in the NPL 2026 points table?
Seventh, with four points from five matches — two wins and three defeats — and a net run rate of minus 0.846, the worst in the league. Chitwan Rhinos hold the last playoff place on five points. Two wins from their last two matches would take them to eight.
Who is the Karnali Yaks captain?
Sompal Kami, who also leads the side with the ball — nine wickets from five matches, joint-third in the season — and has scored 93 runs, including an unbeaten 62. Kami has captained Karnali in all five matches so far, and no other Karnali bowler has taken more than six wickets.
Who are Karnali Yaks' top scorers this season?
Ariful Islam leads with 143 runs from five matches, including 12 sixes. Pawan Sarraf has 140, and David Miller made 100 runs in just two appearances, including 93 — Karnali's highest individual score of the season. Sompal Kami has 93 runs as well, including an unbeaten 62.
What do Karnali Yaks need to reach the playoffs?
Two wins from two: Lumbini Lions on Thursday 12 November and Chitwan Rhinos on Sunday 15 November. That takes them to eight points. Even then, Biratnagar Kings can also reach eight, so net run rate may decide it. A single defeat leaves them on six points at most, needing favours elsewhere.
SialTV will update this page after every Karnali Yaks match.