Kathmandu, Sept 26: Cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane will be playing 19th Asiad cricket in China. According to an official at Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), Sandeep will be heading to China today afternoon.
Likewise, spinner Sagar Dhakal will also join Nepali team. Both of them will be flying today. The inclusion of star leg spinner Sandeep will certainly boost the morale of the team, CAN said.
The Nepali cricket team reached Hangzhou of China on Sunday itself. Nepal is playing against Mongolia on Wednesday morning. Sandeep was scheduled to go on Monday but he had to appear before the District Court to hear the final verdict on allegation of rape charges against him. However, the court have been repeatedly delaying his verdict.
But Sandeep did not go with the team saying that he was mentally unable to play. After the President of Nepal Cricket Association (CAN) Chatur Bahadur Chand and Secretary Paras Khadka met Sandeep on Monday night, he was ready to go China.
Likewse, Sagar Dhakal will replace spinner Lalit Narayan Rajvanshi. Lalit missed the 19th Asiad Games cricket due to the closed right clavicle fracture injury while fielding in a practice match at the TU Cricket Ground. Now Sagar will replace Lalit. But Sagar was also unable to go with the team due to visa issues.
Nepal, which is in Group A, will play its first match against Mongolia on Wednesday and against Maldives on Sunday.
Nepali cricket team
Rohit Paudel (Captain), Karan KC, Pratis GC, Aasif Sheikh (WK), Kushal Malla, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Sundeep Jora, Binod Bhandari, Kushal Bhurtel, Dipendra Singh Airee, Bibek Kumar Yadav, Abinash Bohora, Sandeep Lamichhane, Sagar Dhakal
In the Asiad 2023, Mongolia, Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, Hongkong, Thailand, Maldives and Malaysia will be playing at the group stage. However, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will directly qualify for final round.
The final will be played on October 7, 2023.
