Defending champions Lumbini Lions have signed United States all-rounder Shadley van Schalkwyk, while Biratnagar Kings have recruited former Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews for the third season of the Nepal Premier League (NPL).
Lumbini announced van Schalkwyk’s signing on social media, citing his impressive performance at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where he took 13 wickets in four innings. His tally matched that of the Netherlands’ Bas de Leede for the most wickets by a player from an Associate nation in the tournament.
Born in South Africa, van Schalkwyk is a right-arm medium-fast bowler and left-handed batter. He has taken 17 wickets in One-Day Internationals and 28 in T20 Internationals for the United States.
Mathews, meanwhile, brings extensive international experience to Biratnagar Kings. A member of Sri Lanka’s 2014 T20 World Cup-winning team, he has captained his country across all three international formats.
The right-handed all-rounder has scored 1,416 runs, including six half-centuries, and taken 45 wickets in 90 T20 Internationals. In 226 ODIs, he has made 5,916 runs, including three centuries and 40 half-centuries, and claimed 126 wickets.
In 119 Test matches, Mathews has scored 8,214 runs, including 16 centuries, and taken 33 wickets. Across 233 T20 matches, he has accumulated 4,090 runs and 45 wickets.
Biratnagar have already signed West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell, along with Shubham Ranjane and Charith Asalanka, as they build their squad for the upcoming season.