Sandeep Lamichhane will join Nepal’s squad for the T20 World Cup in West Indies after being denied a US visa twice. The Nepal government and the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) lobbied on the spin bowler’s behalf by submitting a second visa application but to no avail.
Lamichhane joins Vendy in Nepal after US visa rejection:
Sandeep Lamichhane will join Nepal’s squad for the T20 World Cup in West Indies after being denied a US visa twice.
The Nepal government and the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) lobbied on the spin bowler’s behalf by submitting a second visa application but to no avail.
The 23-year-old was convicted of raping an 18-year-old woman in December 2023 but that conviction was recently overturned.
Lamichhane missed Nepal’s loss to the Netherlands in Dallas and will miss out on Tuesday when his country plays Sri Lanka in Florida.
Nepal will then play group matches against South Africa and Bangladesh in the West Indies, who are co-hosting the tournament with the United States.
“Nepali player Sandeep Lamichhane will leave for the West Indies to participate in the ongoing T20 World Cup and join the Nepal national cricket team,” association secretary Paras Khadka said in a statement.
“I am now joining the national team for the last two matches in the West Indies and I am looking forward to fulfilling my dreams and the dream of all cricket lovers,” Lamichhane said in a social media post.
“To all the cricket fans and people back home who have prayed for me, I will always be grateful for your blessings.”
Lamichhane, a former captain of the Nepal national team and a popular player, was also denied a US visa in 2019 when he was to play in the Caribbean Premier League.
Sandeep Lamichhane joins Nepal squad for T20 World Cup in West Indies after US visa rejection
Sandeep Lamichhane is set to join Nepal’s squad for the T20 World Cup in the West Indies after being denied a US visa for the second time. Despite efforts by the Nepal government and the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) to support the star spinner’s visa application, they were unsuccessful.
Lamichhane has been included in the national squad following his absence in Nepal’s match against the Netherlands in Dallas and the next match against Sri Lanka in Florida. Nepal will compete in the group matches against South Africa and Bangladesh in the West Indies, which is co-hosting the tournament with the United States.
“Nepali cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane will travel to the West Indies to join the national team for the ongoing T20 World Cup,” CAN secretary Paras Khadka announced in a statement.
Lamichhane expressed his happiness on social media, saying, “I will be joining the national team for the final two matches in the West Indies and I am looking forward to fulfilling my dreams and the dreams of cricket fans.”
Lamichhane, a former captain and top player of Nepal’s national team, faced a visa denial in 2019 when he was to participate in the Caribbean Premier League. The 23-year-old, who was convicted of raping an 18-year-old woman in December 2023, had his conviction overturned recently.
His participation in the World Cup has been highly anticipated by fans, who have shown unwavering support during the challenges he has faced. He said, “To all our cricket fans and supporters who prayed for me, I am forever grateful for your blessings.”
