Sompal Kami

{{short description|Nepalese cricketer (born 1996)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Sompal Kami | image = | caption = | country = Nepal | fullname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1996|02|02}} | birth_place = Chandrakot, Gulmi | nickname = Gulmi Express, Somu | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Right-arm Fast medium | role = Bowling all-rounder | international = true | internationalspan = 2014-present

| columns = 4 | column1 = ODI | matches1 = 61 | runs1 = 691 | bat avg1 = 20.93 | 100s/50s1 = 0/2 | top score1 = 63 | deliveries1 = 2668 | wickets1 = 79 | bowl avg1 = 28.89 | fivefor1 = 1 | tenfor1 = 0 | best bowling1 = 5/33 | catches/stumpings1 = 14/– | column2 = T20I | matches2 = 74 | runs2 = 329 | bat avg2 = 10.61 | 100s/50s2 = 0/0 | top score2 = 40 | deliveries2 = 1402 | wickets2 = 70 | bowl avg2 = 23.85 | fivefor2 = 0 | tenfor2 = 0 | best bowling2 = 3/20 | catches/stumpings2 = 25/– | column3 = FC | matches3 = 3 | runs3 = 77 | bat avg3 = 25.66 | 100s/50s3 = 0/1 | top score3 = 51 | deliveries3 = 336 | wickets3 = 6 | bowl avg3 = 41.50 | fivefor3 = 0 | tenfor3 = 0 | best bowling3 = 2/8 | catches/stumpings3 = 2/– | column4 = LA | matches4 = 105 | runs4 = 1186 | bat avg4 = 19.76 | 100s/50s4 = 0/3 | top score4 = 75 | deliveries4 = 4513 | wickets4 = 137 | bowl avg4 = 28.03 | fivefor4 = 2 | tenfor4 = 0 | best bowling4 = 5/27 | catches/stumpings4 = 22/– | | date = 5 November 2024 | source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/nepal/content/player/701215.html ESPNcricinfo | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry| {{NEP}}}} {{MedalSport|Men's Cricket}} {{MedalCompetition|South Asian Games}} {{MedalBronze|2019 Kathmandu/Pokhara|Team}} }}

'''Sompal Kami''' ({{langx|ne|सोमपाल कामी}}; born 2 February 1996) is a Nepalese professional cricketer. Kami is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast-medium bowler.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/nepal/content/player/701215.html|title=Sompal Kami|work=Cricinfo}}</ref> He is one of the eleven cricketers to play in Nepal's first ever One Day International (ODI) match, against the Netherlands, in August 2018. In January 2019, he became the first bowler for Nepal to take a five-wicket haul in an ODI.<ref name="5wkt">{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/982934 |title=Nepal youngsters earn team big victory over UAE |work=International Cricket Council |accessdate=26 January 2019}}</ref>

== Early life ==

Originally from Gulmi in western Nepal, Sompal was raised in India after his father moved to Punjab along with his family.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sedhai |first1=Roshan |title=One-Day International status gives Nepal cricket hopes of revival |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2018/4/7/one-day-international-status-gives-nepal-cricket-hopes-of-revival |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=2 December 2025 |date=7 Apr 2018}}</ref> Sompal spent his childhood as an enthusiastic cricket lover. He played in various school-level tournaments. Most notable was his participation in the Indian Premier Corporate League where he was the captain. He returned to Nepal in 2013 and continued his cricket career.

== Domestic and T20 franchise career == Sompal made his entry to Kathmandu Region No. 3 through the Nepali Cricket Fan Club. He was one of the key players of Kathmandu Region No. 3, which won the U-19 National Championship. He broke a record in the tournament by scoring two centuries and achieving the best bowling figures. Through this tournament, he impressed the Nepal coach Jagat Tamatar and was able to cement his place in the national squad.

In an unofficial tournament, Sagarmatha Cement Journey to World Cup tournament in December 2013 in Kathmandu, Sompal was the leading wicket-taker with 10 wickets in four matches.

He made his first-class debut for Saracens Sports Club in the 2015–16 Premier League Tournament on 26 December 2015 in Sri Lanka.<ref name="FC">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/936933.html |title=AIA Premier League Tournament, Group A: Saracens Sports Club v Colombo Cricket Club at Moratuwa, Dec 26-28, 2015 |accessdate=13 March 2017 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref>

In June 2019, he was selected to play for the Winnipeg Hawks franchise team in the 2019 Global T20 Canada tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canadacricket.com/?p=12755 |title=Global T20 draft streamed live |work=Canada Cricket Online |accessdate=20 June 2019}}</ref>

== International career ==

He made his debut for Nepal against the UAE in January 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-qualifier-2014/engine/match/696701.html|title=3rd Match, Group A: Nepal v United Arab Emirates at Rangiora, Jan 13, 2014 - Cricket Scorecard - ESPN Cricinfo|work=Cricinfo}}</ref> He was subsequently selected in the Nepal national cricket team for the 2014 World Cup Qualifier in New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cricnepal.com/9079/prithu-sompal-selected-for-world-cup-qualifier/#sthash.kYRZzUUL.dpbs|title=Sompal selected for Worldcup |publisher=Cricnepal|date=8 December 2013 }}</ref>

Sompal played six List A matches in the 2014 World Cup Qualifier and took eight wickets – one less than spinner Basanta Regmi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-qualifier-2014/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=8701;type=tournament|title=Cricket Records - ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, 2013/14 - Records - Most wickets - ESPN Cricinfo|work=Cricinfo}}</ref> He played three Twenty20 International matches in the 2014 ICC World Twenty20, held in Bangladesh, and took four wickets with best figures of 2/13.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/world-t20/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=8083;type=tournament|title=Cricket Records - World T20, 2013/14 - Records - Most wickets - ESPN Cricinfo|work=Cricinfo}}</ref>

Sompal picked up five wickets for 47 against Malaysia in the 2014 ACC Premier League in Malaysia, the best bowling figures of his career.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/736505.html|title=5th Match: Malaysia v Nepal at Kuala Lumpur, May 2, 2014 - Cricket Scorecard - ESPN Cricinfo|work=Cricinfo}}</ref> He took 15 wickets in total and was adjudged the tournament's best bowler.<ref name="espncricinfo.com">{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/wcldiv3-2014/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=9349;type=tournament|title=Cricket Records - ICC World Cricket League Division Three, 2014/15 - Records - Most wickets - ESPN Cricinfo|work=Cricinfo}}</ref> During the 2014 Asian Games, Sompal took five wickets at an average of just 4 runs apiece and an exceptional economy rate of just 2.50.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=9531;type=tournament|title=Cricket Records - Records - Asian Games Men's Cricket Competition, 2014/15 - Most wickets - ESPN Cricinfo|work=Cricinfo}}</ref> He was the only Nepalese player to be chosen in the Select XI of the tournament by Asian Cricket Council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asiancricket.org/index.php/tournaments/asian-games-2014-main/3018|title=ACC ANNOUNCES ASIAN GAMES SELECT XIs|author=Administrator|work=asiancricket.org}}</ref> He took 11 wickets in the 2014 ICC World Cricket League Division Three, which Nepal won.<ref name="espncricinfo.com"/>

In the first Twenty20 International of Nepal's November 2014 series against Hong Kong (played in Sri Lanka), Sompal, batting tenth, scored 40 runs from 31 balls in Nepal's first innings of 72 all out, which included six fours and two sixes. He consequently set a new record in all Twenty20 matches for the highest score made by a number ten batsman, surpassing the previous figure of 37 runs set by Sri Lankan Pradeep Nishantha in 2007.<ref>[http://stats.espncricinfo.com/usa/content/records/283979.html Records / Twenty20 matches / Batting records / Most runs in an innings (by batting position)] – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 November 2014.</ref> Sompal and Shakti Gauchan (5*) put on 43 runs for the ninth wicket, the fifth-best ninth-wicket partnership in Twenty20 Internationals.<ref>[http://stats.espncricinfo.com/usa/content/records/283551.html Records / Twenty20 Internationals / Partnership records / Highest partnership for the ninth wicket] – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 November 2014.</ref>

He was the leading Nepalese wicket-taker in the 2015 ICC World Cricket League Division Two in Namibia. He picked up 11 wickets in 6 matches at an average of 19.18 and an economy of 4.00.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/world-cricket-league-div2-2015/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=9821;type=tournament|title=Cricket Records - ICC World Cricket League Division Two, 2014/15 - Records - Most wickets - ESPN Cricinfo|work=Cricinfo}}</ref> In February 2015, he went Sri Lanka after being recruited by Kalutura Physical Culture Club to play in the Emerging Trophy Tournament, three-day cricket tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ekantipur.com/2015/01/30/sports/four-cricketers-to-play-in-sri-lanka/401027.html|title=Four cricketers to play in Sri Lanka|work=ekantipur.com}}</ref> He played 5 matches and picked up 39 wickets in 8 innings. He took 6 wickets in the 2015 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier at an average of 19.83 and an economy rate of 7.00.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/icc-world-twenty20-qualifier-2015/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=10131;type=tournament|title=Cricket Records - ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier, 2015 - Records - Most wickets - ESPN Cricinfo|work=Cricinfo}}</ref>

He was in Nepal's squad for the 2018 ICC World Cricket League Division Two tournament.<ref name="NepalWCL2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.myrepublica.com/news/35056/?categoryId=81 |title=Nepali Cricket team announced for Division 2 |accessdate=25 January 2018 |work=My Republica}}</ref> In the third match against UAE, he took 4/30 to restrict the opponent to 114 runs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8786/scorecard/1133937/nepal-vs-united-arab-emirates-9th-match/|title=9th match, ICC World Cricket League Division Two at Windhoek, Feb 11 2018 - Match Summary - ESPNCricinfo|website=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

In July 2018, he was named in Nepal's squad for their One Day International (ODI) series against the Netherlands.<ref name="NepSquad">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/24129195/nepal-spinner-shakti-gauchan-retire-netherlands-tour |title=Nepal spinner Shakti Gauchan to retire after Netherlands tour |work=ESPN Cricinfo |accessdate=18 July 2018|date=18 July 2018 }}</ref> These were Nepal's first ODI matches since gaining ODI status during the 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier.<ref name="NepalODI">{{Cite web |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/644459 |title=Nepal thrash PNG to secure ODI status |accessdate=15 March 2018 |work=International Cricket Council}}</ref> He made his ODI debut for Nepal against the Netherlands on 1 August 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1151834.html |title=1st ODI, Nepal tour of England and Netherlands at Amstelveen, Aug 1 2018 |work=ESPN Cricinfo |accessdate=1 August 2018}}</ref>

In August 2018, he was named in Nepal's squad for the 2018 Asia Cup Qualifier tournament.<ref name="NepACQ">{{cite web|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/sports/nepal-announce-squad-for-asia-cup-qualifier-fixtures-decided/ |title=Nepal announce squad for Asia Cup Qualifier, fixtures decided |work=The Himalayan |accessdate=18 August 2018|date=18 August 2018 }}</ref> In October 2018, he was named in Nepal's squad in the Eastern sub-region group for the 2018–19 ICC World Twenty20 Asia Qualifier tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/869213 |title=Exciting battle on the cards in the ICC World T20 Asia Qualifier B in Malaysia |work=International Cricket Council |accessdate=2 October 2018}}</ref>

On 26 January 2019, in the second ODI against the United Arab Emirates, Sompal became the first bowler for Nepal to take a five-wicket haul in an ODI match.<ref name="5wkt"/> In June 2019, he was named in Nepal's squad for the Regional Finals of the 2018–19 ICC T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.khabarhub.com/2019/30/29391/ |title=Nepal's 14-member squad announced for ICC World T20 Asia Finals |work=Khabarhub |accessdate=1 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricketingnepal.com/articles/474106/sharad-back-in-the-team-jora-bhim-left-out |title=Sharad back in the team, Jora, Bhim left out |work=Cricketing Nepal |accessdate=30 June 2019 |archive-date=1 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701010927/https://cricketingnepal.com/articles/474106/sharad-back-in-the-team-jora-bhim-left-out |url-status=dead }}</ref> In November 2019, he was named in Nepal's squad for the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dailylivescores.com/final-squad-announced-for-emerging-cup-khadka-and-lamichhane-miss-out|title=Final Squad Announced For Emerging Cup, Khadka and Lamichhane Miss Out|work=dailylivescores|accessdate=11 November 2019}}</ref> Later the same month, he was also named in Nepal's squad for the cricket tournament at the 2019 South Asian Games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/lamichhane-to-miss-sag/ |title=Lamichhane to miss SAG |work=My Republica |accessdate=30 November 2019}}</ref> The Nepal team won the bronze medal after they beat the Maldives by five wickets in the third-place playoff match.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/sports/south-asian-games-bronze-for-nepal-in-mens-cricket/ |title=South Asian Games: Bronze for Nepal in men's cricket |work=The Himalayan Times |accessdate=9 December 2019}}</ref> In September 2020, he was one of eighteen cricketers to be awarded with a central contract by the Cricket Association of Nepal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://emergingcricket.com/news/central-contracts-nepal-women/ |title=Nepal: Women to receive inaugural central contracts, all cricketers to be insured |work=Emerging Cricket |accessdate=23 September 2020}}</ref>

On 26 March 2024, he took his first hat-trick in T20s against the Ireland Wolves.<ref>{{cite web |title=T20 series win against Ireland Wolves a welcome boost for Nepal |url=https://kathmandupost.com/cricket/2024/03/26/nepal-defeat-ireland-wolves-by-71-runs |access-date=26 March 2024 |work=The Kathmandu Post}}</ref> In May 2024, he was named in Nepal's squad for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nepal has announced their Squad for T20 World Cup |url=https://www.scorewaves.com/news-details/nepal-cricket-team-icc-mens-t20i-world-cup-squad-for-t20-world-cup |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=ScoreWaves |language=en}}</ref>

In January 2026, Kami was selected in Nepal's squad for 2026 T20I World Cup.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Talent aplenty in Nepal's squad for Men's T20 World Cup 2026 |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/mens-t20-world-cup-2026/news/talent-aplenty-in-nepal-s-squad-for-men-s-t20-world-cup-2026 |access-date=2025-02-02 |date=2026-01-06}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category}} *{{cricinfo|id=701215}}

{{Navboxes |title= Nepal squads |bg= #003893 |fg= white |bordercolor=crimson |list1= {{Nepal Squad 2014 World Twenty20}} {{Nepal Squad 2024 Men's T20 World Cup}} {{Nepal Squad 2026 Men's T20 World Cup}} }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kami, Sompal}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:People from Gulmi District Category:Nepalese cricketers Category:Nepal One Day International cricketers Category:Nepal Twenty20 International cricketers Category:21st-century Nepalese sportsmen Category:Saracens Sports Club cricketers Category:Cricketers at the 2014 Asian Games Category:Cricketers at the 2022 Asian Games Category:Asian Games cricketers for Nepal Category:South Asian Games bronze medalists for Nepal Category:South Asian Games medalists in cricket