Nepal Spinner Sandeep Lamichhane Denied US Visa Ahead of ICC T20 World Cup 2024

Nepal spinner Sandeep Lamichhane’s hopes of participating in the upcoming T20 World Cup have been dashed after he was denied a US visa. This setback comes after Lamichhane was accused of rape by a minor back in 2022. The victim, who was 17 years old at the time, alleged that the star cricketer had raped her multiple times in a hotel room in Kathmandu on August 21 of that year. The victim filed a rape complaint against Lamichhane on September 6.

However, in a recent turn of events, Lamichhane was acquitted by the Patan High Court in the rape case, making him eligible for selection for the T20 World Cup. This news was met with relief and joy by Lamichhane, who expressed his gratitude for the court’s decision.

In 2022, Lamichhane, who was then the captain of the Nepal cricket team, was suspended by the Cricket Association of Nepal following the rape allegations. But with his acquittal, the suspension has now been lifted, clearing the way for Lamichhane to potentially represent Nepal in the T20 World Cup.

Lamichhane’s performance in the previous T20 World Cup Asia Qualifiers, where he was the leading wicket-taker for Nepal, has put him in contention for a spot in the squad. With the final squad selection deadline set for May 25, Nepal’s provisional squad has already arrived in the Caribbean and is gearing up for the tournament.

Nepal is placed in Group D alongside Bangladesh, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands in the T20 World Cup. They will begin their campaign on June 4 against the Netherlands in Dallas.

Despite the recent developments, Lamichhane’s visa denial has raised questions about his availability for the tournament. Nepal will play warm-up games against Canada and the USA on May 27 and 30 respectively, and it remains to be seen if Lamichhane will be able to join his team for these matches.

The situation is still evolving, and fans are eagerly awaiting updates on whether Lamichhane will be able to overcome this latest hurdle and represent Nepal in the prestigious T20 World Cup.