KATHMANDU, Sept 21: Nepal’s much-anticipated T20 series against the West Indies has been thrown into uncertainty after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) failed to issue visas to the Nepali cricket team on time. The series, scheduled to begin on September 19, would have marked Nepal’s first-ever encounter with a T20 World Cup-winning side.
According to the team’s approved travel itinerary, Nepal was supposed to fly to the UAE on September 18. But two days past the opening fixture, the visas have yet to be granted, and the UAE has offered no official explanation to Nepali authorities. The delay has left players frustrated and preparations disrupted.
DOI issued 163,518 visas in the FY 2015/016
Travel agencies say the UAE government has temporarily suspended visas for Nepali nationals, though no formal notice has been issued. “Despite continuous follow-ups, we have not received any official communication regarding the visa process,” said Chunbi Lama, spokesperson for the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN). The series had been branded the “Unity Cup” by CAN.
The suspension comes as Nepal gears up for the T20 World Cup, raising concerns that the visa issue could derail its preparations. Media outlets in Nepal have speculated that the UAE’s stricter visa regime may be linked to regional security concerns. The recent mass escape of prisoners during Nepal’s Gen-Z movement—when more than 15,000 reportedly fled custody, with over 8,000 still at large—and recent attacks in Qatar are said to have heightened scrutiny of visa applications.
The UAE has previously taken similar steps, including a temporary suspension of visa approvals for Bangladeshi citizens following political unrest and the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Nepal is scheduled to face the West Indies on September 27, 29, and 30 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. But with visas still pending, the fate of the series remains in jeopardy unless the matter is resolved swiftly.
