NPL was blockbuster. But racism remains out of discourse

Mayan Yadav made the last strike, running two between the wickets, at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Stadium, aka TU Ground, in Kirtipur on December 21. 

In a few moments at the dawn of the historic first Nepal Premier League (NPL), Janakpur Bolts were set to lift the trophy that the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) had carved out of stones from Kala Patthar — a landmark in the Everest region famous for its 360 degree view of the Himalayas. Such is the allure Nepal’s mountainous region presents.

A while after, the Janakpur Bolts stood behind the ‘winner’ banner finally defeating Sudurpaschim Royals, following their two defeats in the league — each in the league stage and the Qualifier 1.

Twenty-six years old Bipin Yadav of Madhesh’s Siraha district like most other Bolts’ supporters was present inside the stadium till the trophy and medal presentation, and the ceremony where the Bolts’ player Lalit Rajbanshi was awarded for being the highest Nepali wicket taker.

The day was setting. 

Yadav, a Master degree student and a civil service officer rank aspirant, left the ground solo to return to his rented room uphill Kirtipur. Little did he know what was coming up next would leave a scar for life.

After walking a few metres, he was confronted by an “unidentified” hooligan of at least 50 people, who were apparently supporters of Sudurpaschim Royals and disappointed at their team’s defeat. They, uttering abusive words, threatened him to take off his hoodie, underneath which he was wearing Janakpur Bolts’ jersey.

“I was walking on my way to my room unbothered. I saw a group of 50-60 people coming from the other side. I didn’t realise they were coming for me because neither have I done anything to [provoke] them nor did I put abir (sign of victorious celebration) on my forehead,” Yadav told the_farsight shedding his awareness of the threat that putting abir on his forehead could get him into danger.

“I got very scared when they got me. They asked me to take off the jersey too, and as soon as I could do so, they attacked me.” 

They physically assaulted him, punching on his face, and hitting with a metal rod on his legs, and plastic pipes on his head. He somehow dodged a few of them and fled away. A few of the hooligans pelted stones at him while chasing him to some distance. While his mouth and head were bleeding, he could eventually escape them.

“I somehow managed to escape, but they looted an Apple airpod and as much as Rs 3,000 from the pocket of my hoodie,” he added.

His other friends, who were heading to their respective destinations, met the same fate at the Kirtipur Gate. One of them got severe injuries in one of his ears, according to Yadav, who has been living in Kathmandu for over six years. It all happened in front of the eyes of a few police personnel, but little did they bother to stop it, said Yadav.

Similarly, ‘X’ user Bitu Mishra shared his experience of horrors threading on his timeline. He has been living in Kathmandu for nine years but was as petrified as ever.

Meanwhile, videos that went viral on social media for a couple of days show the hooligans assaulting supporters of Bolts’, and snatching, breaking and throwing the flags representing the team.

Those clips then subsided quickly as if the algorithms were directed not to pop up users’ feeds — particularly on TikTok where the incidents were posted for the first time. 

In a relevant context, the short video sharing platform removed over 6,000 videos citing breach of community guidelines last month as per its understanding with the government, indicating a state-interfered content moderation.

Before the winds of Kirtipur could celebrate successful completion of the first ever NPL tournament, the atmosphere soured with assaults on Yadav and his friends, and alike. Many Bolts’ supporters, like Mishra, had to run to avoid potential confrontations that setting day, abandoning all the joys and cheers they could have expressed on the Kirtipur streets.

They all were targeted because they supported one particular team that emerged victorious. It was not an unfortunate consequence of fan rivalry, but clearly a medium and chance for the “unidentified” but racist group to demonstrate what they think of an entire community. Of Madhesis in this particular event.

Social Activist BP Sah, who attended the final, told the_farsight that he observed verbal abuse directed at Bolts’ supporters, while police administration were reluctant to take any action.

Yadav and two of his friends filed a police complaint for the assault on them. 

The Madhesi Commission condemned the incident and wrote to the government to take necessary action.

Two days later, the police nabbed two individuals of the jumbo group. But, according to Yadav, they are reluctant to proceed with the case further. Rather, he was offered a settlement amount of NRs 45,000 (NRs 15,000 each for three complainants) in cash from the offenders.

He said that police pressured him to take the money and withdraw the complaint. Regardless of what he decides, no further action will be taken on the complaint, he said, recalling the conversation on a phone call he received from the police station.

He and his friends have declined the settlement offer, and demanded that remaining offenders be nabbed, actions be taken against culprits as per laws and their belongings and cash be returned.

Moreover, despite videos available online and with people around the incident site, the police have not done anything substantial to identify other offenders, alleges Yadav. Additionally, they could only make an arrest after they were informed about the location of offenders by the complainants themselves.

This highlights state negligence and indifference in taking immediate actions against publicly committed crime — assault under the pretext of racism.

Sah, who is also secretary of the central committee of Janamat Party, criticising the state’s outlook and indifference towards the Madhesi community, said, “it is the continuation of discrimination perpetuated by the state. Only the mode has changed now.”

He added, “Police usually do such a stint to divert attention from issues as well as suppress it,” after it shows signs of becoming a big discourse.

Ruling and opposition parties are busy with their constitution amendment foul plays. Student political wings are, no surprise, dead until the sword points to their masters’ neck.

But it’s not just state. 

Madhesis were targeted in NPL broadcast YouTube channel’s live comments as Biratnagar Kings and Janakpur Bolts were set to play the league’s inaugural match.

Verbal racism — or social media trolling of Madhesis based on their clothing, appearance and cultural proximity to the Indian state of Bihar — was so rampant throughout the league that a physical confrontation from both sides (Bolts and Royals) was anticipated for the day of the final match. Fortunately, such a clash did not take place.

Neither did the Kathmanduite media, on the other hand, give the incident the space it deserves, let alone creating a discourse around racism in the very game that ideally joins fragmented hearts, strengthens unity.

Paras Khadka, secretary of the CAN and face architect of NPL, appeared in at least three interviews to Kathmanduite media post-incident. Little did any host mention the assault incident to him, despite his position of authority. Except in one of the interviews published on December 30, where the host questioned him, but more like a fanboy, terming it merely “unfortunate incidents”.

To which, Khadka swept it under the carpet citing it as shortcomings in security protocols “that will be improved in upcoming editions”. He has so far failed to acknowledge the assault even after the police apprehended two suspects.

The act of racism is treated as strictly untolerable under the ICC’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, even when it’s directed against supporters. The ICC plays a supervisory role in shaping and overseeing NPL, with a focus on upholding the integrity of the game and ensuring the league aligns with international standards.

There are particular provisions suggesting immediate response and further proceedings when supporters of one team display acts of racism against supporters of the other team and right outside the venue.

The ICC policy defines such incidents outside the purview of sports authorities but the subject of law enforcement agencies.

For instance, in a 2021 India vs Australia match at Sydney Cricket Ground, some Indian supporters reported harassment outside the venue following an incident of racism against Indian players during the match. Local authorities launched an investigation, and offenders were banned from future games, while Cricket Australia and New South Wales Police issued statements condemning the behaviour.

Yet, the policy upholds that it is the responsibility of the national cricket board and/or event organiser to help the agencies investigate. It clearly marks that the national cricket board and/or event organiser issue public apologies or statements “condemning incidents of harassment”.

Not to mention, it was physical assault at the NPL. But CAN has not made any such statement.

The Nepal cricket governing body did little to ensure the safety of Bolts’ supporters, let alone acknowledging and condemning the assault.

It would have been ideal had owners and management of the both teams released a public statement each condemning the assault incident. But neither of them cared.

People from various walks of lives, regardless of their ethnicity and community, did call out the “dehumanising act” of racism against Madhesis through the very social media.

Sah, the activist, welcomed these responses calling out such “criminal” acts and voicing for unity against such acts. Yet he observes that the volume of acts of racism “exceeded the volume of expressing solidarity with Madhesis”.

The ICC’s policy also suggests educating cricket supporters through campaigns, for instance social media fan pages, to create an inclusive environment for all in the sport that is colloquially known as ‘Gentlemen’s Game’.

The bells have jingled and resolutions renewed as the Gregorian calendar marched into the year 2025. The racism in NPL should not be shadowed in bid to ‘forgetting the past and beginning anew’ — without overhauling it.