Sagar Pun, who last played competitive cricket back in 2018 in the Everest Premier League was seen last week playing for the NRNA Sports Academy team in the 9th National games in Kathmandu.
Having played with National colours and with various franchises for quite a time in his career, he was suddenly out of sight for the last four years. Pun was out due to a knee injury that he sustained in December 2018.
After undergoing knee surgery, his recovery was prolonged and it kept him out of action for an indefinite period of time. He then left the country and went to the United States. After a few seasons, he started playing club cricket overthere, hoping to an imminent international comeback. “I was desperately looking for a chance to play cricket again,” Pun said to Onlinekhabar.
Sagar Pun, 29, played as an all-round cricketer, his presence in the side, gives balance to batting, bowling, and fielding. In the past, his fielding skills are given more flexibility to the team.
So far, as per the record in ESPNcricinfo, he has featured in 1 ODI, 9 T20Is, 22 List A and 21 T20 games for Nepal in his career . He was also part of the inaugural T20 World Cup 2014 squad.
Last week Pun was in the news, making a return to Nepal and playing in the 9th National games. He played four matches for his side NRNA Sports Academy.
Pun came as an opener in the first T20 match against Sudur Pashchim Province and announced himself with a blistering knock of unbeaten 46 runs in just 19 deliveries, including 3 boundaries and 3 sixes. Sadly, the match was reduced to six overs per side due to the rain.
The second match did not go well for him as he missed the ball from Spinner Bhuvan Karki and got bowled for just 6 runs (6 balls) against the though APF side. Pun continued as an Opener for NRNA in the third match against Nepal Police Club. Chasing a challenging 111 runs in 8 overs, he countered punch with four sixes in his innings of 37 runs off 20 balls, however, his side lost the semi-final by 13 runs.
Playing the third-place play off, it would have been great to watch another comeback innings from him, but the rain continued to halt the game as was the case for the whole tournament. In total, Pun made 89 runs in three innings facing 45 balls and batted with a strike rate of 197.77.
“To get a chance to play in the homeland gives me the next level of happiness”, Pun said to Onlinekhabar. He is already emotional to play at the home after a four-year gap and hoping to make a comeback to the national side.
“I am ready to play for the national team anytime if my performance will help them”, he further added.
For Sagar Pun, Nepal T20 League might give him another shot to make a strong comeback from Janakpur Royals.
With inputs from Onlinekhabar
