The cricket association said on Monday that Sandeep Lamichhane, a controversial player from Nepal, will be joining their T20 World Cup squad in the West Indies. Lamichhane missed matches in the United States due to his visa being denied.
In a statement, organization secretary Paras Khadka said, “Nepali player Sandeep Lamichhane will depart for the West Indies for the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup and join the Nepali national cricket team.”
The West Indies and the United States share co-hosting duties for the T20 World Cup.
Former captain Lamichhane, whose eight-year rape sentence was overturned on appeal, was the player Nepal had first intended to choose, but after vigorous lobbying, his US visa was repeatedly denied.
Lamichhane wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “I am looking forward to fulfilling my dreams and the dream of all cricket lovers.” “I am now joining the national team for the last two matches in the West Indies.”
The 23-year-old spin bowler Lamichhane was formerly Nepal’s cricket poster child until he was found guilty in 2022 of raping a young woman in a Kathmandu hotel. That was invalidated a month ago.
Nepal’s first World Cup match ended in a six-wicket loss to the Netherlands.
