US Embassy Denies Sandeep Lamichhane Visa for T20 World Cup: India’s Ace Bowler Likely to Miss Tournament

The talented cricketer from Nepal, Sandeep Lamichhane, faced a major setback in his career as the US embassy denied him a visa for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Lamichhane, who was eagerly waiting to make his comeback to international cricket after being acquitted in a rape case, expressed his disappointment on social media.

The 23-year-old leg-spinner was arrested in 2022 on rape allegations but was later released on bail. He was suspended from domestic and international cricket until he was acquitted by the appeals court last week. The ICC had allowed the Nepal cricket board to include him in the World Cup squad following his acquittal.

Lamichhane took to Twitter to express his frustration, stating that the US embassy had denied his visa for the T20 World Cup, which is set to take place in the USA and West Indies. This is not the first time he has faced such a situation, as he was also denied a visa in 2019 when he was supposed to compete in the Caribbean Premier League.

With Lamichhane out of the squad, Nepal will have to rely on other players to fill the void. The team has been placed in Group D along with South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Netherlands. Despite his absence, the Cricket Association of Nepal is considering adding him to the World Cup squad.

Lamichhane, who has an impressive record in both ODIs and T20Is, will be missed by fans and teammates alike. His absence is a blow to Nepal’s chances in the tournament, but the team is determined to put up a good fight in his absence.