Sandeep Lamichhane makes a backdoor entry in T20 World Cup 2024 as USA officials deny VISA

Young Nepal cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane is set to join the national cricket team after missing the match against the Netherlands in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies. Sandeep Lamichhane couldn't join the squad in the United States as his visa was denied twice by the US Embassy in Nepal.

Sandeep Lamichhane was included in the Nepal squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 after being acquitted in a minor rape case last month. However, his US visa was denied twice, despite intense lobbying. Nepal suffered a six-wicket loss to the Netherlands in their World Cup opener in Dallas on Tuesday, June 4.

Paras Khadka, Secretary of the Cricket Association, announced that Nepali player Sandeep Lamichhane would depart for the West Indies to join the national cricket team participating in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup.

"Nepali player Sandeep Lamichhane will leave for the West Indies for the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup and join the Nepali national cricket team," Paras Khadka said in a statement.

I Am Now Joining The National Team - Sandeep Lamichhane

Sandeep Lamichhane took to social media to announce that he has joined the Nepal squad in the West Indies for Nepal's final two matches. Lamichhane expressed gratitude to various government and cricket bodies for their support. He thanked cricket fans and well-wishers for their prayers and blessings.

"First of all I would like to thank the Government of Nepal, Foreign Ministry, Sports Ministry, National Sports Council(NSC), and Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) for their support in helping me get the US visa but unfortunately it did not work out this time."

"But now through all of that aside, I am now joining the National Team for the last two matches in the West Indies and looking forward to fulfilling my dreams and the dream of all cricket lovers."

"To all our cricket fans and people back home everywhere who prayed for me, I will forever be grateful for your blessings."

Namaste 🙏
Hello from West Indies.🏝️❤️ pic.twitter.com/7w6y6lEslO

— Sandeep Lamichhane (@Sandeep25) June 10, 2024

Nepal will face Sri Lanka at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, in Florida on Tue Jun 11 (local time). The Rohit Paudel-led team will play against South Africa and Bangladesh in their last two group matches in the West Indies.

In 2022, an arrest warrant was issued for Sandeep Lamichhane, who initially did not return from Jamaica, where he was participating in the Caribbean Premier League. He was subsequently dismissed as the national captain and arrested. However, Nepal later lifted his playing ban after he was released on bail.

The 23-year-old leg spinner was able to continue playing, including participating in last year's Asia Cup in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, until his conviction in January. This conviction was overturned in mid-May. His most recent appearance for the Nepal national cricket team was in the 2023 T20 World Cup Asia Finals.

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