Nepal's teenage
legspinner Sandeep Lamichhane's
career will feature another milestone at the end of May. The 17-year-old, who
played a major role in Nepal gaining ODI status and recently became the first
Nepal player to play in the IPL, has been named in the World XI squad that will
take on West Indies at Lord's on May 31, in the Hurricane Relief T20 Challenge match.
Lamichhane took 13 wickets in the recently concluded ICC World
Cup Qualifier, where Nepal finished eighth and consequently earned ODI status.
He joins a team - led by Eoin Morgan - that features the likes of Shahid
Afridi, Hardik Pandya and Rashid Khan, who will come together to raise funds to
rebuild and restore five cricket venues in the Caribbean that 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 said.
"Training, sharing the dressing room and playing with some of the
trendsetters who we saw on television while growing up is something I look
forward to."
This won't, however, be
Lamichhane's debut at Lord's. He had been part of the Nepal team that defended
217 against MCC in 2016.
"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,"
Lamichhane said. "To play there in 2016 was a memorable occasion, which I
look forward to reliving later this month."
Meanwhile, Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan has withdrawn
from the squad, saying he needs to rest before the Afghanistan series. His
replacement hasn't been announced.
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
