Friday, February 7

Sandeep Set To Be Excluded From National Team, Says CAN President Chand

By a Staff Reporter

Kathmandu (HamroKhelkud) – Nepali National Cricket Team spinner Sandeep Lamichhane is set to be excluded from the national squad following a verdict from the Kathmandu district court on Friday, which found him guilty of raping a young woman. 

Chatur Bahadur Chand, president of the Nepal Cricket Association (CAN), confirmed that Sandeep will not participate in the national team until further orders, pending a possible clearance through another legal decision.

In a conversation with HamroKhelkud, CAN president Chand stated, “Sandeep will no longer be with the Nepal National Team. He will not be in the Nepali team until further orders. If cleared by another order, he could return. Otherwise, he will not be able to play in a Nepal jersey.” He further emphasized that CAN cannot field him in the national jersey anymore, citing that this issue is not directly related to the cricket association.

Chand added, “If there were match-fixing or spot-fixing cases, we would not be allowed to have him in any tournament. It is up to him to play in other tournaments if he can, but he won’t get to play for Nepal.”

The legal saga began when Sandeep was accused of raping a girl in a hotel in Kathmandu on Bhadra 5 of the previous year. The girl filed a complaint on Bhadra 21, alleging repeated incidents of rape. Patan High Court initially overruled the Kathmandu District Court’s decision and granted Sandeep bail of 20 lakhs on the 28th of Poush. He was removed from the position of the national team captain by CAN, while the legal proceedings also created challenges for his international travel.

Sandeep had been a part of the national team since last Falgun. The district court’s guilty verdict means he also missed the Pro Club Championship final in Birganj on Saturday. 

The sentencing is scheduled for the 25th of Poush, with Sandeep potentially facing a prison term of 6 to 10 years. In cases with a sentence of less than 10 years, there is a provision for the defendant to appeal to the High Court without immediate incarceration.

While Sandeep awaits the court’s decision, he will miss big events lined up for Nepal, including the ICC World League-2 triangular series and the T20 World Cup scheduled in the USA and West Indies in June. 

Sandeep, at 23, is a prolific leg-spinner, amassing a total of 112 wickets in 51 ODIs and 98 wickets in 52 T20Is for Nepal. 

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