By Zainab Shafiq 
Nepali cricket star Sandeep Lamichhane’s dreams of participating in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 have been thrown into disarray after his US visa application was denied. According to ESPNcricinfo, Lamichhane, who was recently acquitted of rape charges, had been considered for a spot in Nepal’s World Cup squad.
The T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies, kicks off on June 1st, leaving Nepal with a tight deadline. With the final squad submission to the ICC looming on May 25th, Lamichhane’s visa denial presents a significant challenge.
Lamichhane expressed his disappointment on social media, stating that the US Embassy in Nepal denied his visa, similar to an incident in 2019. Efforts by ESPNcricinfo to reach the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) for comment have been unsuccessful.
This news comes as a major blow to Nepal, who were counting on Lamichhane’s talents. He was their leading wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup Asia Qualifiers last year, his nine wickets playing a crucial role in securing their World Cup spot.
Nepal’s team is currently training in St Vincent and will travel to the USA for crucial warm-up matches on May 27th and 30th against Canada and the USA respectively, both in Dallas. Their first World Cup match is scheduled for June 4th against the Netherlands, also in Dallas.
Lamichhane’s acquittal by the Patan High Court due to a lack of evidence opened the door for his return. A CAN spokesperson previously confirmed his clearance to play all forms of cricket following the court’s decision.
However, this recent visa denial casts a shadow over his World Cup participation. Nepal will have to make a quick decision on a potential replacement for their star spinner as they gear up for the biggest stage in T20 cricket.
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