Sajan Lamichhane: Telling Nepal Cricket’s Stories through the Lens

In July 2024, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) received the ICC Digital Fan Engagement Initiative of the Year award as part of the ICC Development Awards for 2023. Initially honoured as the Asia Regional Winner, CAN went on to secure the global award. The recognition highlights the strong engagement of fans on digital platforms.

CAN has been doing really good work on social media platforms thanks to the efforts of many dedicated individuals, including Sajan Lamichhane, the official photographer for CAN. Known for his dedication and skill, Lamichhane has captured numerous iconic photographs through his hard work and a keen eye for the perfect shot.

Sajan Lamichhane has served as CAN’s official photographer for two years, during which his lens has captured numerous iconic moments. Among them, the image of the Nepal national flag amidst a sea of umbrellas in the crowd gained viral fame, resonating not only in Nepal but across the global cricketing community. Lamichhane regards this photograph as a breakthrough that transformed how people perceive his work.

Sajan who is 23 years old has an interesting story behind his journey into photography. “When I was in 4th grade, some tourists from Poland visited our school, introduced us to cameras, and even let us take a few pictures. That moment sparked my dream of owning a professional DSLR camera and capturing moments myself. However, growing up in a middle-class family, achieving that dream wasn’t easy.” A decade later, Lamichhane finally got his first camera and began working as a photojournalist for several online portals. Since then, he hasn’t looked back and now also owns his own office – Sajan’s Photography.

Whether it’s Nepal’s international matches or domestic games at TU or Mulpani Cricket Ground, you might have spotted a lean young man frequently sprinting outside the boundary rope, moving from one end to the media centre—that’s Sajan Lamichhane. “In domestic matches, we don’t have dedicated internet for the photo booth, so I frequently need to upload photos and ensure key moments – like half-centuries, fifers, or other milestones are shared promptly. During Nepal’s matches, the internet often doesn’t work well due to heavy crowd, which forces me to rush and sometimes risk missing important moments,” Lamichhane explained. “However, the Nepal Premier League (NPL) was a different experience; we had a separate internet connection for the photo booth, which made my work much easier.”

Sajan has travelled extensively with the team for various tournaments, including a recent trip to the USA for the CWC League 2 series. Previously, he accompanied the team to Zimbabwe for the CWC Qualifier and to Sri Lanka for Nepal’s historic Asia Cup participation. On many occasions, he has found himself overwhelmed with emotion on the field. “Witnessing Nepal qualify for the T20 World Cup and achieving 11 wins in 12 matches were incredibly special moments. I couldn’t hold back my tears—they were tears of happiness. But I quickly reminded myself to stay focused and keep working, knowing I couldn’t afford to miss capturing crucial moments,” he shared.

“One of the biggest challenges in sports photography is the cost of equipment and gear,” Sajan shared. “I’ve always found ways to get what I need to capture quality shots, whether by borrowing equipment from friends or taking out loans to purchase it myself. Archiving images also requires plenty of memory and hard drives, but CAN has been very supportive in helping with these needs,” he added.

In November 2023, Sajan received an off-field honour—the ‘Commitment Award’—from Nepal’s head coach, Monty Desai as part of the Happy Dressing Room series. In addition to this recognition, he has garnered widespread positive messages and support from the Nepal Cricket community.

“Cricket photography isn’t just about capturing players in action; for me, it’s about telling a story through my lens,” Sajan explains. “I strive to capture moments and stories that often go unnoticed by others. As the official photographer of CAN, I believe I’ve been able to leave a lasting impression with my work.” Always smiling, Sajan acknowledges that he still has a long journey ahead, but he takes pride in how far he has come.

Sajan Lamichhane has truly been capturing the essence of Nepal Cricket through his lens. He has become a true storyteller behind Nepal Cricket’s iconic moments through the Camera.