Bipin Dani
Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) will involve the government to get a fresh US visa for their star spinner Sandeep Lamichhane. This was revealed by the CAN president ChaturBahadur Chand.
The 23-year-old spinner was denied a US visa for T-20 World Cup 2024 to be played in the USA and the West Indies from June 1.
“And the @USEmbassyNepal did it again in 2019, they denied my Visa for the T-20 World Cup happening in the USA and West Indies. Unfortunate. I am sorry to all the well wishers of Nepal Cricket,” Lamichhane posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
Speaking exclusively over the telephone from Kathmandu, the CAN chief said, “we are saddened with the news. He was exonerated from the rape charges and the player was in line to play the matches. He had submitted all necessary documents received from the ICC and our association”.
“He is our key player and we want him to play in the World Cup. We will now involve our Prime Minister and also, the foreign, home and sports ministry to intervene in the matter. Hopefully, he will be cleared to travel to the US”. The last date for boards to submit their final squads to the ICC is May 25.
In fact, Sandfeep’s original 5-year visa was valid till 2025 but because of the recent rape charges against him, the US embassy had dismissed his visa.
