The Janakpur Bolts, one of the eight franchise teams in the Nepal Premier League T20 cricket tournament, has named Puja Mahato, captain of Nepal’s U-19 women’s national team, as the “Face of the Bolts.” The announcement was made on Monday, highlighting Mahato’s remarkable achievements in the cricket world.
Mahato recently led her team to qualify for Nepal’s first-ever ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup, defeating the United Arab Emirates in a thrilling match at the Asia Qualifiers. Nepal will compete in Group D against Australia, Bangladesh, and Scotland in next year’s tournament, which is set to take place in Malaysia.
Mahato has been a standout performer on the international stage. She scored a record-breaking 130 runs against Kuwait during the Asia Qualifier, becoming only the second Nepali woman cricketer to hit a century in an international match. Her 130 remains the highest individual score by a Nepali woman cricketer.
Expressing their pride, the Bolts stated, “The pride of Madhesh and the vibrant Face of the Bolts! Representing passion, strength, and unity, Puja Mahato embodies everything our team stands for. Together, we rise!”
Bolts Unveil Team and Jersey
The Janakpur Bolts also unveiled their official jersey during the event. Their squad features a mix of national and international stars. Nepal’s Aasif Sheikh, the national men’s cricket team wicketkeeper-batter, is their marquee player. Former Nepal coach Pubudu Dassanayake has been appointed as the team’s head coach.
The team’s roster includes prominent Nepali players such as Anil Kumar Sah, Lalit Rajbanshi, Hemant Dhami, and Aakash Tripathi. To strengthen their squad, the Bolts have signed international players, including Pakistan’s Sohaib Maqsood and Muhammad Mohsin, Sri Lanka’s Liharu Milantha, America’s Joshua Tromp, and New Zealand all-rounder James Neesham.
The Bolts are gearing up for an exciting season in the Nepal Premier League, with both local and international talent poised to make an impact on the field.