Nepal visa problems may affect ICC Trophy plans

With six days till the commencement of the biggest cricket event in the world this year - the ICC Trophy in Canada - Nepal's participation has been thrown into doubt. Newspaper reports from India today are saying that four members of the Nepalese squad of fourteen have been denied visas by the Canadian Embassy in New Delhi. No specific explanation was given for the refusal to issue the visas, according to Nepalese Cricket Association senior vice-president TV Shah. The Nepal captain Raju Khadka is one of the players affected. Shah says he is attempting to get embassy officials to overturn the decision, but with the team expected to leave for Canada on Saturday, time is running out. The first matches in the 24-team World Cupqualifying competition will be played next Thursday.