From the Nepali press
Santa Gaha Magar in Himal Khabarpatrika, 13 September
The year was 2013 and Kathmandu Region Number 3 was basking in the glory of just having won the U-19 National Cricket Tournament. A 17-year-old named Sompal Kami emerged as a key player for the team, scoring a double century during the tournament. The youngster caught the eye of Pubudu Dassanayake, the national team's coach who trained him as a bowler. Upon reaching the right speed and accuracy, he earned a spot as the national team's opening bowler. He debuted for the national team on 1 January 2014 and the rest, as they say, is history.
Today Kami, 19 , having the capacity of generating bowling speeds that can easily unsettle even the best batsman is considered a player to watch during matches. Ranked 82 in the T20 International bowling ranking he also holds the record for the highest run scored by a No. 10 batsman in T20 International series. He scored 40 runs in 31 balls in a match against Hong Kong during the T20 International series held in Sri Lanka.
More recently Kami along with Avinash Karn was asked to play for Kalutara Physical Culture Center, a first division cricket team in Sri Lanka. The two will be playing from the team for the upcoming November-February season. Last season, when the team qualified for first division, Kami had taken 37 wickets in eight innings. Dassanayake thinks his past performance is the reason Kami has been approached this year as well.
"I was in school when I fell in love with the game," says Kami, who was the captain of the team during the Indian Premiere Corporate League. Born in Gulmi, his parents moved the family to Punjab, India when he was three years old. In 2013, he moved back to Nepal to play cricket
"I ran away from India to play cricket in Nepal," remembers Kami. Arjun Adhikari, who played for Kathmandu region No. 3 had approached Kami on Facebook and asked him to come to Nepal to play cricket. Although Kami was ready for the move, his parents did not approve. Kami remembers saving INR 10,000 and moving to Nepal.
It was the crowds cheering for footballer Bimal Gharti Magar during the SAF Football Championship that inspired Kami to become an ace in his game. "Seeing Bimal who was the same age as me receiving praise inspired me to perform better in cricket," says Kami.
In the short time he has been a part of the national team Kami has played in seven international competitions including T20 International, ACC Premiere League, Asian Games, ICC World Cup League Division-2 and 3. It is Kami's hardwork and willingness to learn that influences Paras Khadka, captain of the Nepal's national cricket team who says Kami is one of those players who have improved in a short span of time. Says Khadka: "His talent is crucial in pushing Nepali cricket forward."