Nepal cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane acquitted of rape on appeal
Al Jazeera
High court overturns eight-year jail sentence on appeal by former captain, who could now join the T20 World Cup squad.
Nepalese cricket star Sandeep Lamichhane’s rape conviction was quashed on appeal after the former national captain challenged an eight-year jail sentence for sexual assault handed down in January.
“The high court has overturned the district court’s decision. Sandeep Lamichhane has been acquitted,” Bimal Parajuli, a spokesman for the Patan High Court, told AFP news agency on Wednesday.
Lamichhane was convicted of raping an 18-year-old woman in a Kathmandu hotel in 2022.
Several Nepalese and Indian news outlets reported that Lamichhane is likely to be included in Nepal’s squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Nepal named its provisional squad for the tournament earlier this month but changes can be made until the May 25 deadline set by the International Cricket Council.
