NEW DELHI: Nepal spinner Sandeep Lamichhane has been suspended by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) following a verdict by the Kathmandu District Court that sentenced him to eight years in prison for raping an 18-year-old woman. The CAN issued a statement on Thursday, addressing the recent legal developments.
In response to the court's decision, the CAN stated, "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 Kathmandu District Court, in addition to the eight-year prison sentence, imposed a fine of Rs 3,00,000 on the 23-year-old cricketer. Lamichhane is also required to pay a compensation of Rs 2,00,000 to the victim.
Lamichhane's lawyer, Saroj Ghimire, confirmed that the cricketer intends to appeal the decision in a higher court. The suspension comes after an arrest warrant was issued in September last year, leading to Lamichhane's removal as the Nepal captain by the Cricket Association of Nepal.
While playing in the Caribbean Premier League for Jamaica Tallawahs, Lamichhane faced the consequences of the arrest warrant as the franchise released him immediately. He returned to Kathmandu, where he was subsequently arrested.
Before his arrest, Lamichhane vehemently denied the allegations, labeling them as a "conspiracy." The suspension has now put a halt to his cricketing career, raising concerns about the impact on his future endeavors.
Lamichhane, known for his impressive performances in white-ball cricket, has taken over 100 wickets in more than 103 matches for Nepal. He also had a brief stint in the Indian Premier League with the Delhi Capitals from 2018 to 2020, securing 13 wickets in nine fixtures during his tenure.
(With inputs from PTI)
