Cricket Nepal has decided to suspend former captain Sandeep Lamichhane from domestic and international cricket following his rape conviction.
The Kathmandu District Court delivered a judgement that has sent ripples through the cricketing community, sentencing the 23-year-old to an eight-year prison term for the sexual assault of a young woman.
The court’s decision came to light on a Wednesday, and by the following day, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has taken swift action, suspending Lamichhane from all forms of domestic and international cricket in light of his conviction.
”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.
The legal repercussions for Lamichhane extend beyond incarceration; he faces a financial penalty of Rs 3,00,000 and is further mandated to provide Rs 2,00,000 in compensation to the survivor of the assault. In the wake of the court’s ruling, Saroj Ghimire, representing Lamichhane legally, expressed their intent to challenge the verdict in a higher court, as reported by ‘The Kathmandu Post’.
Previously, in the month of September, Lamichhane’s burgeoning cricket career was abruptly interrupted when the Kathmandu police issued an arrest warrant against him.
This led CAN to strip him of his captaincy and suspend him. At the time, Lamichhane was participating in the Caribbean Premier League, playing for the Jamaica Tallawahs. The franchise, responding to the allegations, terminated his contract, prompting his return to Kathmandu where he was taken into custody.
Lamichhane has since maintained his innocence, denouncing the charges as a “conspiracy” against him. He has claimed over 100 wickets in upwards of 103 white-ball matches for Nepal. His talent also shone briefly in the Indian Premier League, where he played for the Delhi Capitals from 2018 to 2020, securing 13 wickets across nine games. However, these past achievements are now overshadowed by the serious nature of his conviction.
