Sandeep Lamichhane picked in ICC World XI squad for Windies T20I; Shakib pulls out
BCCI
In what comes as a pleasant surprise for Nepal cricket, young off-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane has been added to the ICC World XI squad for the one-off T20I against Windies to be played on May 31. On the other hand, Shakib al Hasan has pulled out of the match owing to personal reasons.
Lamichhane, who made his unofficial senior international debut while playing for the MCC in 2015, albeit in an unofficial match, has cemented his status as a rising star and grabbed a bid of INR 20 lakh from Delhi Daredevils. On his IPL debut, he performed brilliantly and picked up one wicket at a very impressive economy of 6.25 against Royal Challengers Bangalore. He was also in a very good form for Nepal 2018 WCL Division Two in Namibia and his 17 wickets propelled Nepal into the World Cup Qualifier for only the second time ever.
The leg-spinner will now join a star-studded line-up that comprises players like Eoin Morgan, Shahid Afridi, Tamim Iqbal, Dinesh Karthik, Rashid Khan, Mitchell McClenaghan, Shoaib Malik, Hardik Pandya, Thisara Perera, and Luke Ronchi. The team will go up against current ICC World Twenty20 champions Windies that has the likes of Samuel Badree, Carlos Brathwaite, Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Marlon Samuels and Andre Russell among others.
The match has been organised to raise funds for the reconstruction of various stadiums like Ronald Webster Park in Anguilla, the Sir Viv Richards Stadium in Antigua, the Windsor Park Stadium in Dominica, the A.O. Shirley Recreation Ground in the British Virgin Islands and the Carib Lumber Ball Park in St. Maarten, which were damaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria last year.
"I am privileged to have been chosen to be part of the ICC World XI against the Windies. It is an honour for the entire country and passionate followers of Nepal cricket, as well as an indicator that we are making our mark on the international game,” Lamichhane stated after being picked in the team, reported Cricbuzz.
"Training, sharing the dressing room and playing with some of the
“What can I say about Lord’s, it’s the Home of Cricket, it’s a complete history of cricket and a dream venue for any cricketer. To play there in 2016 was a memorable occasion, which I look forward to reliving later this month. I hope I will continue to get opportunities in future which, in turn, will help me improve my skills as well as my country to strengthen its position on the world cricket map.”
Meanwhile, Shakib Al Hasan has stated that he wouldn’t be a part of the match due to personal reasons and the ICC has confirmed that a replacement for the Bangladesh all-rounder will be named soon enough.
World XI squad: Eoin Morgan (capt.), Dinesh Karthik, Mitchell McClenaghan, Hardik Pandya, Thisara Perera, Rashid Khan, Luke Ronchi, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Tamim Iqbal, Sandeep Lamichhane
