Fresh off securing a spot in the Asia Cup with a decisive victory over the UAE in the ACC Premier Cup final, Nepal’s ODI skipper Sandeep Lamichhane opens up about the collective drive behind Nepal’s recent success. From rigorous squad preparations to lifting the nation’s spirits during the tragic flood back home, Lamichhane reflects on upcoming milestones, the growth of the Nepal Premier League, and his ultimate ambition for Nepali cricket with Kantipur’s Subash Rokaya.

[Excerpts]

How does it feel to lead Nepal to Asia Cup after defeating UAE in the ACC Premier Cup final?

Beyond being captain, just as a player, achieving this brings immense joy. Success wasn’t down to one person—it was a collective effort from the players, the support staff who prepared us, and the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) for trusting us. From our practice sessions at the TU ground to our preparation in India and matches in Malaysia, everyone executed their role.

ACC Premier Cup coincided with devastating floods back home in Nepal. How did the team handle that emotionally?

It was heartbreaking. Seeing the damage and loss of life across Nepal was tragic. However, it gave us extra motivation. We knew we couldn’t change what happened, but we realised that winning and securing Asia Cup qualification could bring a small ray of happiness to Nepalis at home and abroad during a difficult time.

You were named MVP for a second time in the Premier Cup and reached 300 international wickets. What is your ultimate career goal?

My biggest ambition is to see Nepal play Test cricket and to be a part of that journey. Personal milestones are gratifying when looking back, but individual stats mean nothing if the team doesn't win. Whether I take one wicket or ten, my focus is entirely on contributing to match victories.

Nepal relied heavily on a spin-dominant bowling attack with only one main front-line pacer. What was the strategy behind this? 

The pitch conditions strictly demanded spin. Having quality spinners like Dipendra [Singh Airee], Lalit [Narayan Rajbanshi], and myself—complemented by Karan KC leading the pace attack and Gulshan [Kumar Jha] contributing overs—made that tactic effective. Our biggest strength was squad depth. We won five out of six games with a different Player of the Match almost every time. Having experienced leaders like Rohit [Kumar Paudel] and Dipendra around also made my job much easier.

How excited are you to face the powerhouses of cricket in the Asia Cup?

There is still time for the Asia Cup. Before that, we have League-2, and we need to retain ODI status. There are many other tournaments as well, including the Nepal Premier League. There are three very important months ahead for the Nepali cricket, and I am taking it positively. If we play good cricket in these months, so many things will fall in place. Retaining the ODI status means that we can play with big teams.

Yes, the schedule is tight and the team has been busy. How are we preparing for the next challenge: the Asian Games?

We have rested for a few days since the Premier Cup. Our fitness and practice sessions have started. We plan to reach Japan as early as possible because most of us are going there for the first time. We might also get a few days of practice sessions in Japan as well. These are necessary to help players understand the conditions there. We plan to win as many games as possible there.

Nepal will face Afghanistan after 12 years. They are far better than they were then. What is Nepal’s plan this time?

I was in Chitwan when Nepal defeated Afghanistan in the 2014 T20 World Cup. I remember the game and the win clearly. Now, the responsibility is upon us to repeat that win. But we are also fully aware of Afghanistan’s current level. It will be a good opportunity for us to put in some good effort and help Nepal win. And if we can showcase at least 80 percent of the skills the team has, we can also return with an Asian Games medal.

NPL is getting bigger with the way foreign players are coming in. How do you feel about the Festival of Himalayas?

If you want to develop, you need to surround yourself with those who understand the importance and hard work behind development. Those people know their goals and work ethic. Being with them is fruitful. When these big names come to Nepal, and we are allowed to share dressing rooms with them, it helps us improve more and more because there is so much to learn. Nepali players are also great in terms of skills. All we lacked was a good platform, which has been fulfilled to a great extent with the NPL. And having big names arrive in Nepal is a win-win situation for the NPL, players and overall Nepali cricket.

You have shared a dressing room with David Warner and have also taken his wicket. How do you remember him, and how excited are you to see him in the upcoming NPL?

He is such a nice man. We shared the dressing room in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in the 2018/19 season [for Sylhet Strikers]. He is a good leader and very passionate about cricket. He is energetic. Kathmandu Gorkhas did have a big steal, but it is good for Nepali cricket overall. Having someone like him in Nepal, in front of a big crowd, it will definitely be pleasing for the eyes. He has just retired, but I believe there is plenty of experience and cricket left in him.

Nepal played the West Indies in 2024. Now, a T20I series has been finalised with Bangladesh, and there is another series with India ‘A’. Is Nepal getting good attention from the cricketing powerhouses?

Nepal cricket’s craze is known to the world. Not all players want money; they also want to play cricket in a good environment. And where else do you find such an environment than in Nepal, where the hospitality is great and so are the passionate fans. Nonetheless, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) is the one to be praised because they have managed these friendlies. And it has increased responsibility on us players. We need to show that Nepal can compete against these big cricketing nations so that we continue to get exposure in our dream of becoming a Test nation.