James Neesham. Image Credits: X
James Neesham delivered a tight spell for New Zealand against India in the final of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Unfortunately for the star all-rounder, the ‘Black Caps’ failed to upstage India as they stumbled to a huge 96-run defeat at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
Neesham’s individual spell, however, earned widespread praise for its discipline and control, standing out as one of the few bright spots for New Zealand on an otherwise forgettable night. His performance even got him some well-deserved recognition from his Nepal Premier League (NPL) franchise, the Pokhara Avengers.
Instead of acknowledging the praise, the senior all-rounder trolled the franchise, alleging that they are yet to pay the dues of players from the previous NPL season.
James Neesham alleges non-payment of dues in NPL
James Neesham has accused the Pokhara Avengers franchise of not paying the dues of its NPL 2025 players, even though the previous edition of the tournament concluded way back in early December last year.
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The senior New Zealand cricketer, who played four matches for the Avengers in the season, roasted the franchise despite receiving praise from them for his World Cup final performance, cheekily responding in the comments as he pointed out the pending payments.
Responding to a praise from Pokhara Avengers on Instagram, James Neesham wrote “Cool, pay your players.”
What James Neesham's response means for Avengers and Nepal Cricket
Nepal is one of the many countries where cricket has been gaining a strong foothold over the past few years. However, allegations like non-payment of dues could cast an unwanted shadow on the credibility of its franchise leagues, especially at a time when the nation is striving to elevate the profile of the NPL.
As reported by the Sunday Guardian, the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) has already contacted Jimmy Neesham and other foreign players to discuss about the non-payments of players. FICA’s involvement in the matter will likely prompt Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) to act against the Pokhara Avengers and other NPL franchises.
James Neesham's journey in NPL
The senior New Zealand cricketer made his NPL debut back during its inaugural edition in 2024 for the Janakpur Bolts franchise. He was roped in by the Pokhara Avengers for the following season, where he played four matches.
In four innings, the all-rounder listed 99 runs at an average of 33 and a strike rate of 162.29. With the ball, the cricketer picked up five wickets at a slightly expensive average of 20.60.
However, with claims of unpaid dues from his stint with the Avengers, it remains to be seen whether Neesham will consider rejoining the franchise later this year for the NPL 2026 season.
New Zealand falls short on the big day
In any case, Neesham recently ended up on the wrong side of the result for New Zealand in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final against India. Even though the speedster dismissed Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav to claim figures of 3-46, Team India mounted 255-5 batting first.
In response, the ‘Black Caps’ folded up for just 159 in 19 overs, with the all-rounder himself getting cleaned up for just eight by ‘Player of the Match’ Jasprit Bumrah.
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