Sandeep Lamichhane to join Nepal T20 World Cup squad in West Indies

Sandeep Lamichhane will join Nepal’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad in the West Indies after missing matches in the United States because his visa was denied, the cricket association said Monday.

Nepal had originally wanted to select former skipper Lamichhane, but his US visa was denied twice despite intense lobbying.

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

“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,” Lamichhane posted on social media.

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

His social media posts with the announcement were welcomed by fans and filled with congratulatory messages.

Nepal lost to the Netherlands by six wickets in their World Cup opener.

They will play Sri Lanka on Wednesday in Florida before group matches in the West Indies against South Africa and Bangladesh.

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Cricket does not enjoy the same attention in Nepal as it does elsewhere in South Asia.

But the sport has been growing in popularity, with Nepal given ODI status by the world governing body the ICC in 2018.

Lamichhane was a major part of the rise as the most sought-after Nepali cricketer in lucrative T20 leagues around the world.

The bowler’s big break came when he was snapped up for the Indian Premier League, the world’s richest cricket tournament, in 2018.

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