KARACHI: Fast-rising Sandeep Lamichhane, the first player from Nepal to feature in the HBL Pakistan Super League, has described his week-long stay in Karachi a ‘life-time experience’ and expressed his desire to come on a regular basis to this country where he thinks ‘people are made about the game.’

The 18-year-old leg-spinner featured for a luckless Lahore Qalandars and finished with 11 wickets in seven games, but apart from his on-field success Lamichhane described his visit as ‘memorable’.

“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.

“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. It was a lifetime experience,” said Lamichhane before returning home.

“I can’t wait to come back to Pakistan with the Nepal team as I am sure more top-class cricket will come to Pakistan. The fans were very passionate and deserved more cricket. We all felt at home and there were no problems at all. It is great signs for Pakistan that we have played PSL matches here in Karachi.”

Fresh from his exploits in the Big Bash for runners-up Melbourne Stars last month, Lamichhane took 3-46 to lead Qalandars to a six-wicket win over Multan Sultans in Dubai, before his best Twenty20 figures of 4-10 in four overs helped the Qalandars trounce Quetta Gladiators by eight wickets in Sharjah.

Lamichhane admitted it was more challenging to bowl spin against the sub-continent batsmen.

The Nepalese youngster expressed confidence the Qalandars will perform better in future events.

“The backing was great. 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.

Recalling his first entry into big time cricket, Lamichhane said it was former Nepal coach Pubudu Dissanayake, a former Sri Lanka Test wicket-keeper, 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. So, he wanted to see some of us and I bowled at the nets and he was impressed.”

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2019