Kathmandu. Saathi Baltimore, a non-profit organization advocating for the development of cricket in America, has started a campaign for the US visa of cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane. After the US Embassy in Nepal refused to issue a visa to Lamichhane on Wednesday, Sathi Baltimore started a pressure campaign.
Through this campaign, Friends Baltimore is also trying to contact the Maryland state senator to pressure for Sandeep’s visa.
“We, the undersigned, respectfully request the concerned authorities to grant a US visa to Sandeep Lamichhane to enable his participation in the T20 World Cup,” read a statement from Friends Baltimore.
“Not allowing Sandeep Lamichhane to participate in the T20 World Cup is an insult to the world cricket community”, the statement further mentioned. “We believe that granting a visa to Sandeep is in line with the values of sportsmanship, fair play and the promotion of cricket worldwide. Therefore, we respectfully request the authorities to grant US visa to Sandeep Lamichhane.”
On Wednesday, Sandeep Lamichhane’s American visa was refused by the American Embassy in Nepal. Sandeep, who was preparing to go to the World Cup match through his social media, informed that his visa was rejected by the American embassy.
After being acquitted in the rape case, the Nepal Cricket Association included him in the Nepali team. But Sandeep is staying in Nepal after the USA did not grant him a visa. Cricket Association President Chatur Bahadur Chand submitted all the documents along with the decision that Sandeep was acquitted. The International Cricket Council (ICC) also informed that they would agree to change the players.
But the American embassy said that visa cannot be granted. Cricket Association President Chand said that the government should take initiative to send him to the World Cup.
