Sandeep Lamichhane denied US Visa for T20 World Cup

Sandeep Lamichhane, who was previously convicted and then acquitted of a rape case that involved a minor, has been denied a visa to travel to the United States of America (USA). 

The Nepal national men’s team announced its squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup before Lamichhane’s acquittal from the High Court, which took multiple hearings. 

There has been no official confirmation from the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) regarding Lamichhane’s inclusion in the World Cup squad. However, Lamichhane’s tweet implies that he was indeed going to be part of Nepal’s World Cup plans, as teams are allowed to make changes to their squads until May 25. 

“And the @USEmbassyNepal did it again what they did back in 2019, they denied my Visa for the T-20 World Cup happening in USA and West Indies. Unfortunate. I am sorry to all the well wishers of Nepal Cricket,” Lamichhane said in his tweet. 

Lamichhane, 23, was once the poster boy for cricket in Nepal and the leg-spinner's on-field success had boosted the sport's profile in the Himalayan republic. In 2022, he was accused of raping a young woman in a Kathmandu hotel but was freed on bail and returned to the squad to compete in international tournaments. 

When authorities issued an arrest warrant in September 2022, Lamichhane initially failed to return from Jamaica, where he played in the Caribbean Premier League. 

Lamichhane was convicted of rape in December 2023 by Kathmandu District Court after a repeatedly delayed trial that had left him free to continue his sporting career. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, but he appealed in the Patan High Court, which acquitted him of the rape charges due to lack of evidence against the accused. 

After the decision, CAN also suspended him from domestic and international cricket. 

Notably, the leg spinner was also denied a visa once in 2019 when he wished to travel to the USA for the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). 

In addition to playing in multiple franchise leagues worldwide, the 23-year-old has represented his country in 52 T20Is and has a record 98 wickets. 

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