Sandeep Lamichhane suspended by Nepal cricket association after conviction in rape case

Sandeep Lamichhane has been suspended by Nepal’s cricket body after he was sentenced to eight years in prison for raping an 18-year-old woman. Cricket Association of Nepal’s (CAN) suspension came after the Kathmandu District Court announced the verdict on Wednesday.

“We inform you that Sandeep Lamichhane has been suspended from any kind of domestic and international cricket activities as he has been convicted and sentenced,” the CAN said.

A single-judge bench of the Kathmandu District Court also imposed a Rs 3,00,000 fine on the 23-year-old Nepal spinner and ordered him to pay a compensation of Rs 2,00,000 to the victim.

Lamichhane’s lawyer Saroj Ghimire has said in the media that the player “will appeal the decision in a higher court.”

It was in September last year that an arrest warrant was issued by the Kathmandu police. At that time Lamichhane was playing in the Caribbean Premier League for Jamaica Tallawahs. After being released by the franchise with immediate effect, the cricketer returned to his country and was arrested. Lamichhane, however, called the allegations a “conspiracy”.

He was suspended by CAN back then as well but it was lifted in February 2023 as he made a return to the national team.

Lamichhane also played in the Indian Premier League for Delhi Capitals between 2018-20 and took 13 wickets in nine fixtures.

Lamichhane has amassed over 210 wickets in 103 white-ball games for Nepal.