T20 World Cup 2024: Nepal cricketer denied US visa despite being acquitted in rape case

Nepal leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane has been denied visa by US embassy to travel with the national team for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 to be played in USA and West Indies.

Lamichhane was acquitted in a rape case by the Nepal High Court a week earlier.

“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,” wrote Lamichhane on his social media accout X (earlier known as Twitter).

Lamichhane was proven innocent of charges in a case dating back to 2022 after he was accused of assault by an 18-year-old woman.

Lamichhane was the first-ever Nepal player to feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Nepal cricketer was on the road to a comeback to professional cricket following the court’s hearing ahead of the marquee event.

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Notably, the Scotland cricket team players had refused to shake hands with Lamichhane after their 3-wicket loss to Nepal in last February.