Sandeep Lamichhane to Join Nepal for T20 World Cup in West Indies

Nepal's controversial cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane has been cleared to join his national team in the West Indies for the ICC T20 World Cup. The 23-year-old spin bowler was initially denied a visa to enter the United States, where the tournament's opening matches were held. However, after his visa applications were denied twice, the Nepal Cricket Association (NCA) announced on Monday that Lamichhane would be joining the team for the remaining matches in the West Indies.

Lamichhane's return to the national team is a significant boost for Nepal, who have struggled in his absence. The team lost their opening match of the tournament to the Netherlands by six wickets and will face Sri Lanka in Florida on Wednesday before heading to the West Indies for matches against South Africa and Bangladesh.

Lamichhane's inclusion in the squad brings experience and skill to the team. He is one of Nepal's most successful cricketers, having played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Big Bash League (BBL). His return is expected to provide a much-needed boost to Nepal's chances of progressing to the Super 12 stage of the tournament.

However, Lamichhane's return to the team has also been met with some controversy. In 2022, he was convicted of raping a young woman in a Kathmandu hotel and sentenced to eight years in prison. His sentence was quashed on appeal last month, allowing him to rejoin the cricketing scene.

Despite the controversy surrounding him, Lamichhane remains a popular figure in Nepal. His return to the national team has been welcomed by many fans, who believe that he can help Nepal achieve success in the T20 World Cup.

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