Sandeep Lamichhane has been stood down for Nepal’s second and third T20 internationals against West Indies in Sharjah after pulling out of the series opener “45 minutes before the start.” The leg-spinner, 25, remains part of the squad and will travel to Oman for next week’s regional qualifying tournament.
Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) officials confirmed the decision late on Monday. In a brief statement they said Lamichhane’s withdrawal, only 15 minutes before the toss, had “a serious impact” on both the dressing-room and Nepal cricket more broadly. The team management, the board added, requested he be benched for the remainder of the series.
Speaking privately to coaches afterwards, Lamichhane explained he was “mentally not in a good space to play the match.” No further details were offered and there is no suggestion of disciplinary issues beyond the timing of his decision.
On the field, the episode did little to halt Nepal’s momentum. Rohit Paudel’s side defended 172 to beat West Indies by 19 runs, their first win over a Full Member. Two days later they sealed the three-match contest with a 90-run victory, before slipping to a ten-wicket defeat in a low-key finale.
Attention now turns to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia–EAP Final, starting 6 October in Muscat. Nine teams, split into three groups, will contest two places at the 2026 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Nepal share Group B with Japan and Kuwait, fixtures set for 8 and 10 October. The top two advance to a Super Six phase; finish in the top three there and a World Cup berth follows.
Coach Monty Desai kept selection talk brief. “Sandeep remains an important part of our plans,” he said. “We’ve addressed what happened and are fully focused on Oman.”
Whether Lamichhane slots straight back in or watches from the sidelines will hinge on both form and frame of mind. For now, he stays with the squad, trust rebuilt but still fragile.
