NEW DELHI: Nepal's controversial cricketer
Sandeep Lamichhane
will join his national team in the West Indies for the ICC
T20 World Cup
after being unable to participate in matches held in the United States due to visa issues, the
Nepal Cricket Association
announced on Monday.
"Nepali player Sandeep Lamichhane will leave for the West Indies for the ongoing
ICC
T20 World Cup and join the Nepali national cricket team," stated association secretary Paras Khadka.
T20 World Cup Schedule | Points Table
The T20 World Cup is co-hosted by the United States and the West Indies. Nepal had initially intended to include Lamichhane in their squad from the start, but his visa applications for the U.S. were denied twice despite considerable efforts to secure approval.
Expressing his eagerness, Lamichhane posted on social media platform X, "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."
The 23-year-old spin bowler, once celebrated as the face of Nepali cricket, faced significant legal challenges after being convicted of raping a young woman in a Kathmandu hotel in 2022. His eight-year sentence was quashed on appeal last month, allowing him to rejoin the cricketing scene.
Nepal's campaign in the T20 World Cup began with a six-wicket loss to the Netherlands. They are scheduled to play Sri Lanka in Florida on Wednesday before heading to the West Indies for matches against South Africa and Bangladesh.
Lamichhane's return is seen as a boost for the Nepal team, bringing experience and skill to the squad as they navigate the remaining crucial matches of the tournament.
(With inputs from AFP)
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