By Deep Subedi
KATHMANDU: In 2015, Siddhant Lohani made his debut for the Nepal national cricket team against Jersey in the ICC T20 World Cup qualifiers. Nearly seven years later, Lohani was close to making his return to the national team, thanks to his strong performance in the Prime Minister’s Cup. As captain of the Koshi Province team, Lohani scored 146 runs in just four matches, including two half-centuries, catching the attention of the then head coach Monty Desai.
Lohani’s name was included in the initial squad for the Tri-Nation ODI Series under the ICC World Cup League-2, against Namibia and Scotland. He had hoped for another chance to wear the national jersey. However, after hitting a “helicopter shot” against Jersey, coach Desai’s desire was to include him in the T20 format.
After being dropped from the initial squad, Lohani participated in the Mahendra Narayan Nidhi T20 League in Janakpur, keeping his hopes alive for a national comeback. However, his journey took an unexpected turn when he sustained a serious knee injury while fielding on the ground. After visiting a hospital in Kathmandu the next day, Lohani was diagnosed with a “ligament tear,” which marked the beginning of a long road to recovery.
Lohani underwent five surgeries over six months, dealing with infections and the constant need for medical intervention. He reflects, “I had dreamt of wearing the national jersey again, but now I am dreaming of just being able to walk again.”
The incident occurred on the 19th of Jestha (June 2, 2023), during the Madhesh Province Cricket Association’s tournament in Janakpur, held from 15th to 26th of Jestha, 2080 (May 29 to June 9, 2023). He injured his knee while trying to stop a boundary from Gandaki Province’s Amrit Gurung.
The Nepal Cricket Association (CAN) had granted permission for the tournament, but it failed to monitor the event or ensure compliance with safety standards. Lohani, who had already been deprived of health insurance for the event, was left without immediate support or funds for his medical expenses. “We contacted CAN, but no one paid attention. Eventually, I received just one lakh, which didn’t even cover my transportation costs,” Lohani said. So far, Lohani has spent over 2 million rupees on treatment, including more than 700,000 rupees in Gurgaon, India. He anticipates additional expenses as the treatment continues.
Lohani claims that during his recovery, CAN’s then treasurer Roshan Singh repeatedly raised the issue of covering Lohani’s medical expenses in CAN meetings. When no progress was made, Lohani personally approached the president, Chatur Bahadur Chand, at the U-19 tournament in Biratnagar. However, he received only assurances with no concrete action. “He promised to help, but nothing has been done so far,” Lohani shared.
CAN’s response
Known for his boundary-hitting “helicopter shot,” Lohani now finds himself facing the toughest boundary of his life. However, CAN’s spokesperson, Chhumbi Lama, stated that the responsibility for this issue does not lie with the association. He pointed out that the tournament in question was not conducted during their tenure.
“It is incorrect to say that CAN ignored Lohani or neglected his situation,” Lama said. According to him, Lohani’s treatment expenses were not covered due to the absence of a formal agreement in the tournament’s contract.
After the new CAN management took over, Lohani requested assistance for his medical expenses, which Lama acknowledged. However, he clarified that no meeting had been held yet to discuss the matter, and decisions will be made in future meetings. “This was an issue from the old committee’s time, but now CAN will decide on further support in upcoming discussions,” Lama concluded.
