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Thursday March 28, 2024

Lamichhane desires to visit Pakistan regularly

By Our Correspondent
March 15, 2019

KARACHI: Fast-rising wrist-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane of Nepal has described his week-long stay in Pakistan for the HBL Pakistan Super League 2019 as “a life-time experience” and wishes to visit the country regularly.

The 18-year-old featured for luckless Lahore Qalandars and finished with 11 wickets in seven games. “It was lovely to be here (in Karachi). I enjoyed my visit and would wait for another trip, whether for the PSL or with the Nepal team,” said Lamichhane before returning home.

“I can’t wait to come back to Pakistan with the Nepal cricket team as I am sure more cricket will come to Pakistan. The fans are passionate and deserve more cricket,” said Lamichhane, praising the arrangements.

“We all felt at home and there were no problems at all. It’s really great for Pakistan that we have played PSL matches here in Karachi,” he said. Fresh from his exploits in the Big Bash for runners-up Melbourne Stars in February, Lamichhane took three for 46 to lead Qalandars to a six-wicket win over Multan Sultans in Dubai, before his best Twenty20 figures of four for 10 in four overs helped Lahore trounce Quetta Gladiators by eight wickets in Sharjah.

Lamichhane admitted it was more challenging to bowl spin against the sub-continent batsmen. “It’s always challenging to play T20 cricket and more than that batsmen in the sub-continent play the spin well, so it was a double challenge. I have to learn a lot of things to come good,” said Lamichhane, who has also played in the Indian Premier League.

He said Lahore would perform better in future events.“All Lahore officials were helpful and cordial, but sadly the results were not good. I am hopeful we will achieve better results in the coming years,” said Lamichhane.

He said it was former Nepal coach Pubudu Dassanayake who spotted him in the nets. “Actually I was training. I came to know that Pubudu was coming to our academy. We had a meeting with him. He wanted to see some of us and I bowled at the nets and he was impressed,” he said.

“I am sure Nepal are on their way to bigger cricket and I want to play my part in that. I am doing the hard work and hope rewards will come,” said Lamichhane, who will play for Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2019.