Nepalese Cricketer Lamichhane Acquitted of Rape Charges
Nepalese cricket star Sandeep Lamichhane and his rape conviction was quashed on appeal after the former national captain challenged an eight-year jail sentence for sexual assault handed down in January.
Bimal Parajuli, a spokesman for the Patan High Court, conveyed to AFP news agency on Wednesday that the high court had overturned the district court’s decision, stating, “Sandeep Lamichhane has been acquitted.” Lamichhane had been convicted of raping an 18-year-old woman in a Kathmandu hotel in 2022.
Following his acquittal, numerous Nepalese and Indian news outlets have reported that Lamichhane is likely to be included in Nepal’s squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Nepal had already named its provisional squad for the tournament earlier in the month, but changes can be made until the May 25 deadline set by the International Cricket Council.
Lamichhane, at 23 years old, has been a prominent figure in Nepalese cricket and remains the only player from the Himalayan nation to have participated in major Twenty20 leagues across India, Australia, Pakistan, and the West Indies. His success as a leg-spinner has significantly elevated the profile of cricket in Nepal.
The allegations against Lamichhane surfaced in 2022, when he was accused of raping a young woman in a hotel in Kathmandu. Following the accusation, police issued an arrest warrant, and Lamichhane was taken into custody. Despite these charges, he was later released on bail and was able to rejoin the squad for international tournaments.
His trial, marked by numerous delays, culminated in a December conviction for rape. During the period when the arrest warrant was issued, he initially did not return from Jamaica, where he was engaged in the Caribbean Premier League. Despite being found guilty, Lamichhane’s suspension as Nepal’s captain did not prevent him from continuing his cricket career. He remained part of the national team, participating in significant events such as the World Cup qualifiers and the 2023 Asia Cup. His return to the field in February last year was met with a mixed response—hundreds of enthusiastic cricket fans cheered for him, but his ongoing participation also sparked anger and led many Nepalese to disavow the team.
Notably, during an international tournament in Dubai, Scotland’s cricketers made a point of refusing to shake hands with him after their matches, signaling their disapproval and highlighting the controversy surrounding his continued presence in the sport.
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