Kathmandu, Nov. 18 -- Thousands of fans thronged the upgraded TU International Cricket Stadium on Monday for the opening match of the much-awaited second season of Nepal Premier League, billed as the 'Festival of Himalayas'. And it was a long time coming!

The stadium hadn't hosted any official matches for a year and eight months. For fans shivering in the evening chill, the wait was worth it. The home of Nepali cricket had on offer a spectacle that was unlike anything previously seen in the country's decades-long cricketing history.

This was the same venue that had hosted the country's first international cricket match in 1998 during the ACC Trophy. But back then, it was an open ground, featuring only the barebones of a cricket stadium....