# Jay Trophy

The Jay Trophy is a premier domestic multi-day cricket championship played in Nepal and organized by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN). This tournament featured the top four teams from the Prime Minister Cup.
The inaugural season held at the Shree Ram Janaki International Cricket Stadium in Janakpur and at the Narayani Cricket Ground in Birgunj, Madhesh Province.

## History

In January 2024, CAN proposed the formerly Men’s Elite Trophy, now known as the Jay Trophy, to introduce a multi-day format for the top teams from the Prime Minister Cup. This initiative aims to provide a higher level of competition and further the development of cricket in Nepal.
The Jay Trophy holds a unique position in Nepal’s cricket history, symbolizing the country’s passion for the sport and its commitment to nurturing players for the international stage. Named in honor of Mr. Jai Kumar Nath Shah, the first president of CAN, this tournament has been instrumental in promoting cricket since its inception in 1979.

## Tournament format

The Jay Trophy is contested in a multi-day format. The tournament featured a round-robin structure, played as two-day matches during the preliminary stage, with the top four teams from the Prime Minister Cup qualifying for the competition. The best two teams on the points table will compete in a three-day final.

### Tournament rules

1. Match Duration: - Each match in the round-robin stage will be played over two days. - The final will be a three-day match.
2. First Innings Lead: - If both teams fail to complete their innings in the given time, the team with a higher score will be considered as taking the lead.
3. Points System: - A win will award 6 points. - A tie will award 3 points to each team. - The first-innings lead in a drawn match will provide 2 points. - Teams scoring fewer first-innings runs in a draw will receive 0 points.
4. Follow-On Rule: - If the team batting first gains a lead of 75 or more runs in a two-day match, it can enforce the follow-on. - For the final (three-day match), the follow-on margin is set at 100 runs.
5. Minimum Overs Per Day: - Each day will consist of a minimum of 90 overs unless conditions (such as weather or light) disrupt play.
6. Tiebreaker Rules: - In case teams are tied on points in the group stage, the net run rate (NRR) will decide the standings. - If the final ends in a tie, the trophy will be shared.

## Teams

The inaugural edition of the Men's Elite Trophy included the top four teams from the 2024 Prime Minister Cup.
| Team | Province/Department | Debut | Captain | Head Coach |
| Bagmati Province cricket team | Bagmati | 2025 | Sandeep Lamichhane | Kalam Ali |
| Madhesh Province cricket team | Madhesh | 2025 | Harishanker Shah | Sunil Sah |
| Nepal Police Club cricket team | Nepal Police | 2025 | Aarif Sheikh | Manjeet Shrestha |
| Tribhuwan Army Club cricket team | Nepal Army | 2025 | Binod Bhandari | |

## Tournament records

    As of 16 January 2025
Team records :
| Most trophies wins | 1 | Nepal Police Club | |
| Highest team score | 276/5 | Tribhuwan Armay Club v Bagmati Province | 2024–25 |
| Lowest team score | 74 | Tribhuwan Armay Club v Nepal Police Club | 2024–25 |
Individual match records :
| Highest individual innings | 106 | Mayan Yadav | Madhesh Province v Bagmati Province | 2024–25 |
| Best innings bowling | 8/59 | Shahab Alam | Tribhuwan Armay Club v Nepal Police Club | 2024–25 |
| Best match bowling | 12/112 | Shahab Alam | Tribhuwan Armay Club v Nepal Police Club | 2024–25 |
* Source: Records extracted from ESPNcricinfo

## Winners

The following teams have won the tournament:
| Season | Winner | Runner-up | Winning Captain | Final venue |
| 2024–25 | Nepal Police CLub | Tribhuwan Army Club | Aarif Sheikh | Narayani Cricket Ground, Birgunj |