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Visa Drama Over As Nepal Cleared To Face West Indies In UAE T20I Series

Akshita Patel

Nepal Cricket cleared to play West Indies series [Source: @CricketNep/X.com]Nepal Cricket cleared to play West Indies series [Source: @CricketNep/X.com]

The Nepal cricket team has been issued its visas for the eagerly anticipated T20I series against West Indies in Sharjah. The development comes as a massive relief to players and fans alike, with fears that visa woes could prevent Nepal from attending the series.

According to Chhumbi Lama, spokesperson for the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), the team will depart for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday. They had originally planned to travel on Friday, but had to wait due to visa delays.

Nepal Sort Visa Issue On Time

The situation had raised concerns because the UAE had recently stopped issuing tourist and work visas to Nepali citizens following political unrest.

However, the clearance means that Nepal will now be able to play all three scheduled T20I matches against the West Indies on September 27, 29, and 30 in Sharjah.

Nepal’s head coach, Stuart Law, has already reached Dubai, while fitness trainer Abdul Sattar is joining the squad from India. With the full coaching staff in place and the players now cleared to travel, the team can finally focus on cricket rather than on off-field hurdles.

This series is extremely important for Nepal, as it will serve as preparation for the T20 World Cup Asia–Pacific qualifiers in Oman.

After completing the West Indies matches, the team will head straight to Oman for the qualifiers and later return to the UAE for the ICC Cricket League 2 fixtures against the UAE and the United States.

Nepal earlier announced a 16-member squad for series which has been named the ‘Unity Cup’ by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) in memory of lives lost during recent youth-led protests.

Skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel will lead the side, with star all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee as vice-captain. Left-arm spinner Lalit Rajbanshi makes his return after missing tours in Australia due to personal loss. The squad also includes Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Malla, Sompal Kami, and Karan KC.

Nepal Squad for T20I series vs West Indies: Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Airee, Aasif Sheikh, Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Lokesh Bam, Kushal Malla, Md Adil Alam, Aarif Sheikh, Sundeep Jora, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Gulshan Jha, Lalit Rajbansi, Sompal Kami, Shahab Alam