Nepal Cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane Denied US Visa, Likely to Miss T20 World Cup 2024

Nepal's cricket team faces a significant setback as star spinner Sandeep Lamichhane has been denied a US visa, making it highly unlikely for him to participate in the T20 World Cup 2024. Despite being cleared of rape charges earlier this month, Lamichhane's visa application was rejected by the US Embassy in Kathmandu.

Lamichhane, 23, was initially convicted of raping an 18-year-old woman in 2022 and sentenced to eight years in prison. However, the Patan High Court acquitted him of the charges on May 15, 2024, leading the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) to lift his suspension and reinstate him to the national team.

Despite these developments, Lamichhane's visa application was denied for the second time on May 22, 2024. The US Embassy cited confidentiality under US law that prevents it from commenting on individual visa cases. This decision has sparked news in Kathmandu, with supporters demanding that Lamichhane be allowed to participate in the World Cup.

The Cricket Association of Nepal had lobbied the US embassy through various government agencies, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Chhumbi Lama, a central committee member of CAN, stated, "There is a slim – or no chance – for him to be involved in the World Cup."

Nepal is set to play their first game against the Netherlands in Dallas on June 4, 2024. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has stated that all T20 World Cup squads were finalized by the May 25 deadline, and any alterations to Nepal's squad would require approval from the ICC's event technical committee.

Lamichhane's absence is a significant blow to Nepal's cricket team. He played a vital role in helping Nepal qualify for the T20 World Cup, taking nine wickets during the T20 World Cup Asia Qualifiers. His performance in the semifinal match against the UAE, where he delivered an outstanding spell of 4-1-14-2, was instrumental in securing Nepal's place in the tournament.

The US Embassy's decision has raised questions about the fairness of the visa process, especially given Lamichhane's recent acquittal. A spokesperson for the US Embassy emphasized that they have made efforts to ensure that members of national cricket teams who qualify for the appropriate visa class can travel in time to compete in the World Cup.

With Lamichhane's participation in the T20 World Cup now highly unlikely, the Nepal cricket team must regroup and prepare for their upcoming matches without one of their key players. The first game against the Netherlands on June 4 will be a pivotal test for the team.

Key Takeaways

• Nepal's star spinner Sandeep Lamichhane denied US visa for T20 World Cup 2024.
• Lamichhane acquitted of rape charges, but US Embassy cites confidentiality in visa denial.
• Cricket Association of Nepal lobbied for visa, but efforts were unsuccessful.
• Lamichhane's absence a significant blow to Nepal's cricket team in T20 World Cup.
• Nepal to play first game against Netherlands on June 4 without Lamichhane.