Kathmandu: Nepalese cricketer Sandeep Lamich was given a clean chit by the Patan High Court in a rape case on Wednesday and the ballerina can join the Nepal team for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
A two-judge bench overturned a Kathmandu District Court verdict that sentenced the 23-year-old to eight years in prison, saying there was no evidence in the case.
After being sentenced to eight years in prison in January, Lamichane is challenging the verdict because he believes he is innocent.
Now that he has been declared innocent, he will be selected in Nepal’s squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup in the United States from June 1.
In early September 2023, Lamichane, then captain of Nepal, was suspended by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) after an arrest warrant was issued in Kathmandu in connection with the case. The development came after a complaint was filed at Kathmandu’s Lamichhane police station.
Lamichhane, who is playing in the CPL 2022 with the Jamaica Tallawahs in the West Indies, had to pull out of the tournament immediately after the suspension was announced. After returning to Kathmandu in early October, he was arrested.
Lamichhane created history by becoming the first Nepalese cricketer to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) when he played in Delhi in 2018.
The batsman has been highly sought after in major T20 leagues around the world such as Australian Premier League (BBL), Pakistan Super League (PSL) and CPL.
He holds the distinction of being the second fastest bowler in the world to claim 50 ODI wickets and the third fastest bowler to claim 50 T20I wickets.
Lamichha’s last appearance in international cricket was in a T20I match against Kenya in August 2023.
