![Misbah-ul-Haq named NPL 3 coach [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1792153271620_MisbahUlHaqBabarAzam.jpg?type=hq)
Misbah-ul-Haq named NPL 3 coach [Source: AFP]
Misbah-ul-Haq will return to the dugout in a coaching role for the upcoming season of the Nepal Premier League. Season 3 is just weeks away, and franchises are now finalising their blueprints for the edition, making final tweaks and additions to their setups.
After Misbah’s stint as Pakistan’s head coach of the men’s national team from 2019 to 2021, the former Pakistan captain and legend will take on his first high-profile coaching role in the coming days.
Misbah-ul-Haq named as head coach in NPL 2026
On Friday afternoon, two-time NPL Sudurpaschim Royals took to their social media accounts and revealed the 52-year-old Misbah-ul-Haq as their head coach for NPL 3. He will replace former Nepal player Jagat Tamata in the Royals’ dugout.
Under Tamata, Sudurpaschim Royals had finished top of the table in 2024, followed by a third-place finish in 2025. They failed to cross the final hurdle in both seasons, and would hope to do so under the esteemed guidance of the former Pakistan captain.
Sudurpaschim Royals aim high in NPL 3
Led by the Nepal men's national team captain Dipendra Singh Airee, the Sudurpaschim Royals boast a strong squad. They have Scotland's Brandon McMullen in the ranks alongside the former Kiwi bowler Scott Kuggeleijn as well as USA's Harmeet Singh, making up a well-rounded unit.
In pursuit of their first title, Sudurpaschim Royals will look to use Misbah’s 16-year experience as a player and a subsequent decade's worth of experience as coach and administrator and challenge for the titele. The former player has won the 2009 T20 World Cup, while also playing the inaugural final in South Africa in 2007.
They will start the season against the the Rohit Paudel-led Lumbini Lions on the opening day of the season on October 2026 at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. In a rematch of the 2025 final, the Royals will look for a winning start to put out a statement, with Misbah-ul-Haq at the helm.
