eSewa links NPL 2026 boundary hits to red panda conservation, pledges up to Rs 1 million

KATHMANDU: eSewa is set to contribute up to Rs 1 million towards red panda habitat conservation through a campaign linked to boundary hits during the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2026.

Under the ‘Every Boundary Counts’ campaign, eSewa will contribute Rs 2,000 for every six and Rs 1,000 for every four scored during the tournament, subject to a maximum contribution of Rs 1 million, including taxes. The digital payment service provider is implementing the initiative in partnership with the Red Panda Network and Red Panda Network Nepal.

A tripartite agreement has been established between the three organisations to support red panda habitat conservation. eSewa, the official ticketing partner of NPL 2026, said the funds generated through the campaign will be used to restore natural habitats for red pandas and create employment opportunities for local communities.

The campaign targets the restoration of around 10 hectares of degraded habitat, the plantation of 10,000 native saplings and the creation of employment equivalent to around 600 labour days for local communities, with priority given to women.

According to the organisers, habitat protection and restoration are vital for conserving the red panda, which is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Conservation and tree plantation activities are planned for June-July 2027 in community forest areas of Ilam and Panchthar districts, where red pandas are found.

The initiative includes planting native species, protecting and maintaining saplings, and restoring wildlife-friendly habitats.

Rabi Shakya, Chief Strategy Officer of eSewa, said the Nepal Premier League is a major celebration for cricket enthusiasts across the country and that the initiative seeks to connect the excitement of the sport with conservation efforts.

"The Nepal Premier League is a massive celebration for cricket lovers across the country. By supporting the conservation of red panda habitats for every four and six hit in the NPL, we have attempted to transform the excitement of the sport into nature conservation," Shakya said.

"Through this campaign, our goal is to contribute to biodiversity conservation and local community livelihoods through the positive impact of sports. We believe that this shared celebration among cricket lovers will make a meaningful contribution to the field of conservation."

Ang Phuri Sherpa, Executive Director of the Red Panda Network, welcomed the collaboration with eSewa, saying it links the popularity of cricket with red panda conservation and provides encouragement for conservation and community welfare efforts.

Similarly, Dr Shailendra Thakali, Chairperson of Red Panda Network Nepal, thanked eSewa for connecting cricket with red panda conservation and expressed confidence that the partnership would contribute to habitat protection and the creation of green jobs.

eSewa said details of contributions generated from every four and six during the tournament will be published on its website and social media platforms. The company added that the campaign forms part of its efforts to combine digital payments with environmental conservation and community welfare initiatives.