BBL: Nepali spin bowler Sandeep Lamichhane nominates for draft

A leg-spinner who had his visa denied to play in the T20 World Cup is trying to make a return to Australian domestic cricket.

Controversial Nepali spin bowler Sandeep Lamichhane is trying to mount a BBL comeback after he was denied a visa to play in the US during the T20 World Cup.

The former Melbourne Stars and Hobart Hurricanes leg-spinner was among 432 players who nominated for Sunday’s international player draft.

The 24-year-old has made himself available to play every game as 88 players, including stars Ben Duckett, Haris Rauf and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, are only available for part of the tournament.

Lamichhane, who has claimed 48 wickets in 43 BBL games with an economy of 7.42, has not played in Australia since he was accused of raping a young woman in Kathmandu in 2022.

He was convicted of rape and sentenced to eight years’ jail in January this year but had his conviction overturned on appeal four months later after a Nepali High Court decision.

Nepali former national cricket captain Sandeep Lamichhane was acquitted of a rape conviction after appealing to the Patan High Court in May. Picture: Prakash Mathema / AFP

Despite his acquittal, Lamichhane was twice denied a visa to enter the US for the T20 World Cup and was only able to play in Nepal’s two group matches in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

It is understood the wrist-spinner is not on the radar of any BBL team, and his signing would require clubs to be satisfied they could meet their own integrity guidelines.

Cricket Australia has been contacted for comment.

BBL clubs face a recruiting dilemma in the draft, with most high-profile players not available for the full tournament.

More than 50 nominated players were only listed as available for six to nine games, while 33 said they could play four to six games.

English star Dawid Malan and New Zealand pair Ish Sodhi and Mark Chapman nominated despite being only available for one to three games.

T20 World Cup hero and software engineer Saurabh Netravalkar was among 26 US players who nominated after the left-arm quick continued his strong international form with Washington Freedom in the Major League Cricket competition.

Adelaide Strikers are mulling whether to retain English all-rounder Jamie Overton amid concerns over his fitness and availability for the BBL finals. Picture: Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images

Adelaide Strikers captain Matt Short, who has been heavily involved in recruitment discussions with new coach Tim Paine, said the club was keen to prioritise fully available players after they were hurt by the absences of Chris Lynn, Jamie Overton and Adam Hose at the pointy end of last season.

“I think heading into the draft, we’re looking at players who are going to be available for the finals especially,” Short said.

“We both had a similar feeling, Painey and myself, after losing three of our really good players and going up to Queensland and losing to the Brisbane Heat (in the Challenger final).

“We just need to focus on keeping the guys around and keeping a strong team all the way through the tournament.”

Short was unsure whether the Strikers would use their retention pick on Overton after the all-rounder starred with 16 wickets in his debut BBL campaign.

“He hasn’t been bowling much at all, with some back stress fractures, and then the possibility of England T20s or some other international stuff at the end of the summer, so he’s touch and go,” he said.

Originally published as BBL: Nepali spin bowler Sandeep Lamichhane nominates for draft