T20 World Cup 2024: Sandeep Lamichhane denied US visa again, says Cricket Association of Nepal

Sandeep Lamichhane had said last week his US visa had been denied, calling the decision “unfortunate”. Chhumbi Lama, central committee member of the Cricket Association of Nepal, said their subsequent bid to push for a US visa had failed.
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Bowler Sandeep Lamichhane has been denied visa by the United States Embassy, Cricket Association of Nepal said on Thursday, adding that there was up to “slim or no chance” of the spinner playing in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Lamichhane was
cleared of rape charges earlier in May
after he was accused of raping an 18 year-old woman in 2022. Nepal play their first game of the T20 World Cup against Netherlands in Dallas on 4 June.

The former captain said last week his
US visa had been denied
, calling the decision “unfortunate”. Chhumbi Lama, central committee member of the Cricket Association of Nepal, said their subsequent bid to push for a US visa had failed.

“There is a slim – or no chance – for him to be involved in the World Cup,” Lama told AFP.

“The Cricket Association of Nepal had lobbied to the US embassy through different Nepal government agencies, but the visa was denied.”

Lamichhane, 23, was once the poster boy for cricket in Nepal, but was not included in the original squad because of the conviction for raping a young woman in a Kathmandu hotel in 2022.

The International Cricket Council said that all T20 World Cup squads had been named by the 25 May deadline. Any alteration to Nepal’s squad would now require approval from the ICC’s event technical committee.

With AFP inputs