Nepal leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane is set to miss the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup after his second visa application to the US was rejected. This news comes after Lamichhane had previously disclosed that he had been denied a visa in 2019 as well. The Cricket Association of Nepal confirmed that Lamichhane will not be able to participate in the tournament in the US and West Indies due to the visa denial.
Recently, Lamichhane was suspended as the captain of the Nepal team and was taken into custody following an arrest warrant issued for him regarding an assault on an 18-year-old woman. He was also found guilty of rape in December 2023 and sentenced to eight years in jail, but was later acquitted of the charges by an appeal court in Nepal earlier this month. The US Embassy cited an inability to grant travel permission (visa) to Lamichhane to play in the World Cup.
Despite the setback, Lamichhane remains a prominent figure in the cricket world, being the only player from Nepal to participate in major Twenty20 leagues in countries like India, Australia, Pakistan, and the West Indies. The International Cricket Council has already finalized all T20 World Cup squads by the May 25 deadline, making any changes to Nepal’s squad subject to approval from the ICC’s event technical committee.
Nepal is scheduled to kick off their World Cup campaign with a match against the Netherlands on June 4, followed by games against Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Bangladesh in Group D. The absence of Lamichhane will undoubtedly be a blow for the Nepal team, as they will have to navigate the tournament without one of their key players. Despite the challenges, the team will aim to put up a strong performance and make their mark in the upcoming competition.
