The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has taken decisive action by suspending former national team captain Sandeep Lamichhane from all national and international cricket activities. The announcement came through a press release issued on Thursday by CAN Chairman Chatur Bahadur Chand, stating that Lamichhane has been removed from the national team and is prohibited from representing the country in any game format.
This decision follows a recent ruling by the Kathmandu High Court, which sentenced the spinner to an 8-year jail term after being found guilty of rape. The verdict, delivered by the bench of Shishir Raj Dhakal, included not only imprisonment but also compensation and penalties. The court’s decision came after a thorough hearing on Wednesday.
Lamichhane had previously faced charges in the Kathmandu District Court, which had repeatedly paused the proceedings as the cricketer traveled to Zimbabwe to participate in the World Cup qualifiers. Despite spending some months behind bars, Lamichhane was released on bail in January and later granted permission to travel abroad.
The Patan High Court, subsequently, overturned the Kathmandu District Court’s order to place Lamichhane in judicial custody, citing a lack of sufficient grounds to justify his continued detention. The cricketer was released on bail of Rs 2 million the very next day.
In a bid to continue his cricketing pursuits, Lamichhane had appealed to the Supreme Court (SC), seeking permission to join the national team for ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 matches against the UAE and Papua New Guinea in the UAE at the end of February. However, the recent conviction and suspension by CAN have effectively put an end to Lamichhane’s hopes of participating in international cricket.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Lamichhane consistently denied the rape allegations in statements made to the police. The cricketing community and fans are now left grappling with the fall from grace of a once-prominent player, as the sport’s governing body takes a stand against misconduct within its ranks.
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