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Nepal's T20 World Cup hopes have suffered a major blow as their star leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane, recently cleared of rape charges on appeal, has been reportedly denied a US visa for the second time on Thursday, May 30. This makes his participation in the tournament, which kicks off for Nepal on June 4 against Netherlands, highly unlikely. Lamichhane had even attended a visa interview at the US embassy in Kathmandu in a last-ditch effort, but unfortunately, it wasn't successful.
"And the @USEmbassyNepal did it again what they did back in 2019, they denied my Visa for the T-20 World Cup happening in USA and West Indies. Unfortunate. I am sorry to all the well wishers of Nepal Cricket," Sandeep Lamichhane had posted online on May 22.
Sandeep Lamichhane denied US visa for T20 World Cup again
Just eight days after his first attempt, the 23-year-old spinner was again reportedly denied a US visa on Thursday, May 30. This dashed his hopes of playing in the T20 World Cup, which starts for Nepal on June 4. The news sparked frustration in Nepal, with reports from cricnepal.com indicating protests erupted in Kathmandu. Youths took to the streets demanding a visa for Lamichhane, highlighting his importance to the national team.
Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) confirmed the development on Lamichhane’s visa denial on Thursday, May 30.
“Despite taking necessary initiatives, along with the diplomatic note, from the government of Nepal, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Youth and Sports, National Sports Council, CAN and International Cricket Council (ICC) for cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane’s visit to participate in the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies, the US Embassy has expressed its inability to give travel permission (visa) to national player Lamichhane to play the World Cup,” CAN stated.
When Lamichhane's visa was first rejected, the US embassy remained tight-lipped. Citing confidentiality of visa records under US law, they offered no comment on his specific case.
“The US Embassy in Kathmandu and other US consular posts around the world have made a concerted effort to ensure that members of national cricket teams who qualify for the appropriate visa class are able to travel in time to compete in the World Cup. We cannot comment on individual visa cases as visa records are confidential under US law,” the embassy said last week.
Frustration mounted in Kathmandu after news broke of Lamichhane's second visa denial. As per reports, demonstrators gathered outside the Prime Minister's residence in Baluwatar and planned further protests near the US embassy, demanding a visa for their star cricketer. However, these efforts appear to be in vain, leaving Lamichhane's World Cup participation a distant dream. This development comes after a Nepal high court overturned the Kathmandu district court's verdict that sentenced Lamichhane to eight years in prison on rape charges. The high court judges cited a lack of evidence in their decision, acquitting the 23-year-old spinner.
Nepal's T20 World Cup squad
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
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