Nepal’s star spinner Sandeep Lamichhane is set to miss the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 as he was denied the United States (US) visa again.
The World Cup will be played in the US and West Indies from June 1 with the opening encounter taking place at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas between the US and Canada.
Lamichhane was given a clean chit in the rape case by the Patan High Court earlier this month as a two-bench of judges overturned the verdict of the Kathmandu District Court, which sentenced the 23-year-old to eight years in prison, citing lack of evidence in the case.
After the decision was overturned, Cricket Nepal president Chatur Bahadur confirmed that they would do everything necessary to make sure that the 23-year-old is included in Nepal’s squad to appear in their first-ever World Cup.
After his first application was rejected, the 23-year-old appeared in an interview once again but the decision by the US embassy in Nepal wasn’t satisfactory and Nepal will have to play the World Cup without their star spinner.
Earlier on May 21, Lamichhane took to his X, formerly Twitter, account where he confirmed that the US Embassy denied his visa just like in 2019. He apologised to all the fans of Nepal as he would not be able to participate in the tournament.
“And the @USEmbassyNepal did it again what they did back in 2019, they denied my Visa for the T-20 World Cup happening in the USA and West Indies. Unfortunate. I am sorry to all the well wishers of Nepal Cricket. @USAmbNepal @CricketNep,” he posted on X.
Nepal’s squad for T20 World Cup 2024
Rohit Paudel (c), Aasif Sheikh, Anil Kumar Sah, Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Lalit Rajbanshi, Karan KC, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Pratis GC, Sundeep Jora, Abinash Bohara, Sagar Dhakal, Kamal Singh Airee.
