Sanima Bank on Friday provided ‘sports scholarship’ to Nepal’s leg spinning sensation Sandeep Lamichhane.

The two-year sponsorship was made possible after an initiation from Cricket Players’ Association of Nepal (CPAN). Following the tie-up, Lamichhane will get Rs 20,000 monthly from the bank. Sanima Chief Executive Officer Bhuwan Dahal and Sandeep signed an agreement amidst a programme.

“We hope our gesture will serve as an example to other corporate house to tie up with more players. We wanted a player to focus solely on his game without worrying for earnings. It can be taken as a sports stipend,” said Dahal.

Lamichhane has been a shining star in Nepali cricket in a short span of time after his impressive performance in the ICC U-19 World Cup and ICC World Cricket League Championship matches against Namibia held on April 16 and 18 in Kathmandu. Touted as a future star, Lamichhane was instrumental in handing Nepal a place in the U-19 World Cup quarter-finals, a tournament where he ended up as a second leading wicket taker with 14 wickets.

He had also taken a hat-trick, Nepal’s first at that level and fifth in U-19 World Cup history, against Ireland in a five-wicket haul. His fine performance in the World Cup had opened him a chance to break into the national fold with games against Namibia.

CPAN President and former national team skipper Pawan Agrawal said their association is looking to establish a clean playing environment for cricketers.

Dahal said Lamichhane will be used in very little promotional campaigns of the bank. The 16-year-old Lamichhane took the sponsorship as a motivation.