KATHMANDU: Former Pakistan captain and head coach Misbah-ul-Haq has been appointed head coach of Sudurpaschim Royals for the upcoming season of the Nepal Premier League (NPL).
The franchise announced the appointment on its social media accounts, bringing one of Pakistan cricket’s most experienced former captains into its coaching setup as the Royals pursue their first championship.
Misbah welcomed the opportunity, expressing enthusiasm about working with the team and experiencing Nepal’s passionate cricket culture.
“I am very excited to be joining the Sudurpaschim Royals as the head coach for the upcoming season. I have heard a lot about the passion for cricket in Nepal. I am really looking forward to being part of that atmosphere and working with the talented group of players,” he said.
Misbah replaces Jagat Tamata, who coached the Royals during the tournament’s first two editions.
Royals Target Maiden NPL Title
Sudurpaschim Royals have emerged as a competitive force in the Nepal Premier League, finishing at the top of the standings in both previous editions.
Despite their strong league performances, the franchise fell short in the final on both occasions. The team will now look to Misbah’s experience to help convert its consistent performances into a maiden title.
The third edition of the tournament is scheduled to run from October 26 to November 21.
Misbah’s appointment adds international playing and coaching experience to the Royals’ setup as they prepare for another title campaign.
Misbah’s International Career and Captaincy
Misbah represented Pakistan in all three international formats and became one of the country’s most prominent Test captains.
He played 75 Test matches, scoring 5,222 runs, including 10 centuries and 39 half-centuries. His highest Test score was 161.
As Test captain, he led Pakistan in 56 matches, recording 26 victories. Under his leadership, Pakistan reached the top of the ICC Test rankings for the first time in 2016.
In One-Day Internationals, Misbah scored 5,122 runs, with a highest score of 96. He retired from limited-overs international cricket after the 2015 World Cup before ending his Test career in 2017.
Franchise Cricket and Coaching Experience
Misbah also has considerable experience in franchise cricket. He captained Islamabad United to the title in the inaugural Pakistan Super League (PSL) season in 2016.
His T20 career included 162 appearances and 3,491 runs at an average of 33.89, according to figures cited in reports. In T20 internationals, he played 39 matches for Pakistan, scoring 788 runs, with a highest score of 87.
After retiring from international cricket, Misbah transitioned into coaching and served as Pakistan’s men’s head coach and chief selector from 2019 to 2021.
Earlier in 2026, he also worked as batting coach for Peshawar Zalmi, who won PSL 11 after a nine-year wait.
His experience across international cricket, franchise competitions and national-team coaching will now be put to the test in Nepal, where the Royals hope to turn consecutive final appearances into their first NPL championship.
