Sandeep Lamichhane gets sports scholarship from Sanima Bank

Sanima Bank Limited on Friday agreed to provide‘sports scholarship’ to Nepal’s leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane.

The two-year sponsorship was made possible after an initiation from Cricket Players’ Association of Nepal (CPAN). Following the tie-up, Lamichhane will get Rs 20,000 monthly from the bank.

Sanima Chief Executive Officer Bhuwan Dahal and Cricketer Sandeep signed an agreement amidst a programme.

As per the agreement, Sandeep will receive Rs 20,000 per month from the bank in return for promotional activities involving Lamichhane.

Sandeep, who represented Nepal in the ICC U-19 World Cup held in Bangladesh, came into the limelight for his extraordinary bowling in the event.

The second highest wicket taker of the tournament, Sandeep had claimed the only hat-trick of the competition against Ireland. He also played for national team against Namibia in the third round of the ICC World Cricket League Championship held at the TU grounds, Kirtipur in April.

“We hope our gesture will serve as an example to other corporate house to tie up with more players. We wanted a player to focus solely on his game without worrying for earnings. It can be taken as a sports stipend,” said Dahal.

Similarly, Sandeep, elated with the sponsorship, said that he will try to perform even better in the coming days. “I will leave no stone unturned to represent the country in future and perform even better. I hope that other corporate houses will also sponsor other cricketers of the batch,” added Sandeep.

CPAN President Pawan Kumar Agrawal said that the association would be helpful in creating environment for sustaining cricketers. “Our main target is to make players focused on the game only and not worry about their livelihood. The step Sanima Bank has taken will ease us to approach other corporate houses as well,” said Agrawal, former national cricketer.

National team skipper Paras Khadka, also the general secretary of CPAN, added that the association’s main target was to ensure financial security of players. “We are not here to replace Cricket Association of Nepal, but do things that will help the cricketers,” he said.