Nepalese cricket star Sandeep Lamichhane’s rape conviction was overturned on appeal, nullifying the eight-year jail sentence he received for sexual assault in January. The Patan High Court acquitted Lamichhane, a decision confirmed by court spokesman Bimal Parajuli to AFP news agency on Wednesday. Lamichhane had been convicted of raping an 18-year-old woman in a Kathmandu hotel in 2022.
Following his acquittal, reports from several Nepalese and Indian news outlets suggested that Lamichhane might be included in Nepal’s squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Nepal has announced its provisional squad for the tournament, and changes can still be made until the International Cricket Council’s deadline on May 25.
At 23, he is a significant figure in Nepalese cricket, being the only player from Nepal to participate in major Twenty20 leagues in countries such as India, Australia, Pakistan, and the West Indies. His success has notably raised the profile of cricket in Nepal. However, his career faced a major challenge in 2022 when he was accused of raping a young woman in Kathmandu. Following the accusation, an arrest warrant was issued, and Lamichhane was taken into custody but later released on bail. Despite the charges, he continued to participate in international tournaments.
Lamichhane was found guilty of rape in December after a trial that had been delayed multiple times. When the arrest warrant was issued, Lamichhane was playing in the Caribbean Premier League in Jamaica and did not return to Nepal immediately, adding to the controversy surrounding him.
Despite being suspended as Nepal’s captain, he was allowed to continue his cricket career, including playing in the World Cup qualifiers and the 2023 Asia Cup. His return to the field in February last year received mixed reactions; while hundreds of fans cheered him on, his continued presence in cricket also sparked significant outrage and led many Nepalese to disavow the national team.
Moreover, during an international tournament in Dubai, Scotland’s cricketers refused to shake hands with Lamichhane after their matches, demonstrating their disapproval. This incident underscored the broader controversy of his ongoing participation in cricket despite the serious allegations and his subsequent conviction, which has now been overturned.
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