KATHMANDU: Chatur Bahadur Chand, Chairman of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), has revealed that Sandeep Lamichhane’s name was kept confidential as the 15th player in the ICC T20 World Cup squad.

Chairman Chand clarified that it was the ICC itself that allowed Nepal to include Lamichhane as the 15th player under a “special provision.”

Chand’s clarification has come after harsh criticism of CAN Chair and officials circulated on social media and in the press following the rejection of the visa by the United States.

He revealed that CAN had sent the ICC’s letter to the US Embassy in Nepal prior to Sandeep Lamichhane’s application for the visa, and Lamichhane’s name was on the list.

Chand also made the ICC letter public.

Furthermore, the CAN Chairman stated that until the Nepali team went to America, Sandeep’s case was sub judice, and it would be unfair to speculate whether he was acquitted or not.

CAN has urged not to interpret the matter of confidentiality and caution as weakness.