A group of cricket supporters on Monday staged a peaceful protest against what has been claimed as ‘human trafficking’ in the pretext of a cricket tour in Japan.

Former U-19 cricketers, representing West Kathmandu Football Cricket, had participated in Honda Cup in Japan but it has been blamed that nine non-cricketers were smuggled in the pretext of the tour. The supporters demanded the government to investigate on the issue and bring the guilty to the court. The nine individuals, who left for Japan as players, is said to have gone missing from the team during the tour. Siddhanta Lohani, who has already played for the national team, along with Saurav Khanal, Prem Tamang, Amit Shrestha, Faijlur Rehman Khan and Sonu Tamang had played the tournament.

One of the players said they were not aware about the nine individuals but accompanied as the team members to Tokyo on July 15. “We didn’t even speak to any of them and it was only after reaching Tokyo that we came to know they were playing with us,” said one of the players. “But to our surprise none of them played from our team and we had to manage with other Nepali players who are currently residing in Japan,” the player said in condition of anonymity.

The tour is said to have been managed by Sundar Thapa, a former Boys Union Club goalkeeper, and Kiran Rana, secretary in the elected Cricket Association of Nepal. Thapa and Rana both are accused of being involved in helping the nine individuals go missing in Japan. But both claimed their innocence.

“I was approached by a Japanese to manage cricketers for the tournament. Since I have been more active in football, I coordinated with Rana who brought the seven cricketers. We were not aware about the nine individuals and don’t even know them. I don’t know how they applied for visa,” said Thapa.

Rana, who is currently in the United States of America, told the Post that he has nothing to do with the case. “I am not aware about others because I had the responsibility of our players and they returned. We had tried to give our youngsters exposure but it was our bad luck to go for it. I am ready to cooperate in any sort of investigation because I have done nothing wrong,” said Rana.