Kathmandu, Oct. 26 -- As Lumbini Lions walk out to face Sudurpaschim Royals under the floodlights at the TU cricket ground in Kirtipur on Monday evening, Nepal will be in for perhaps the biggest sporting extravaganza it has ever hosted.

The tournament arrives as the country continues to grapple with the human cost of late-August's devastating floods. Cricket cannot resolve those losses, but it can offer a shared space for celebration and respite. After all, cricket is one of the few sports capable of bringing Nepalis together across geography, generations and social divides.

Over the years, in Nepal, cricket has become a sport offering a rare combination of mass appeal at home and growing recognition abroad.

The Nepal Premier League is...