Sandeep Lamichhane blasts Nepal government over delay in visa

Sandeep Lamichhane has played a massive role in putting Nepal on the map of the cricket world. He has troubled several prominent batsmen with his mysterious deliveries. The young leg-spinner can restrict the run-flow in the middle overs, and his happy knack of taking wickets makes him a captain’s delight. Owing to this fact, the Nepal cricketer has featured in several prominent T20 competitions like the Indian Premier League, Big Bash League, and Caribbean Premier League.

He was supposed to travel to England for his next assignments, but visa and passport issues have disturbed his plans. Lamichhane was a part of the Worcestershire squad for the T20 Blast 2021, which gets underway on June 2. However, the young cricketer’s application for Visa was delayed for too long, and he’ll not be available for the start of the competition. As a result, the County team roped in New Zealand leg-spinner Ish Sodhi as Lamichhane’s replacement.

I am much concerned about the future of Nepal cricket: Sandeep Lamichhane

Furious with the delay in visa, Lamichhane blasted the Nepal government in a Facebook live session. “I’m not really happy with the situation going around.  don’t know what’s going wrong. I’m just very much concerned about the future of Nepal cricket and the future of Nepal. I don’t know what’s going to happen here. The government doesn’t appreciate athletes like us.” Sandeep said.

Last month, Sandeep even took to Twitter and asked the government officials to approve his visa application. “It’s been more than a month since I applied for my UK visa to participate in #T20Blast & #TheHundred. My flight day is approaching and every time I call the office to get updates, I never get a clear answer,” he tweeted.

Any leads in @VFSGlobal Nepal? It's been more than a month since I applied for my UK visa to participate in #T20Blast & #TheHundred. My flight day is approaching and every time I call the office to get updates, I never get a clear answer. I know these are trying times…..

— Sandeep Lamichhane (@Sandeep25) May 25, 2021

Meanwhile, Sandeep is set to miss the initial half of the T20 Blast but he would be hopeful of joining Worcestershire later in the competition. While naming Sodhi as his replacement, the Worcestershire chairman, Paul Pridgeon said: “Because of passport and visa issues, Sandeep was already going to miss at least the first four games and probably more.”

Nevertheless, the 20-year-old, as per a report in ESPNcricinfo, has been granted visa for UK, and he can participate in the inaugural edition of The Hundred. Oval Invincibles have signed Lamichhane in the competition and the leggie would be determined to deliver.