Guwahati: Talented Nepalese cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane has been acquitted of rape charges by Patan High Court in Nepal and is now available to play all forms of domestic and international matches.
This information was shared by the Nepal Cricket Board in a press release on Wednesday.
Earlier, Lamichhane was convicted of the charges by a court in Kathmandu – the capital of Nepal.
A 17-year-old girl had earlier accused Lamichhane of sexually assaulting her in a hotel room in Kathmandu. The minor had filed a case against the cricketer on September 6. Nepal police arrested him on October 6.
The 23-year-old cricketer faced eight years of imprisonment and half a million rupee fine handed over by a district court after being found guilty of rape in 2022.
Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) President Chatur Bahadur Chand said in a press release that “Honourable High Court of Patan has found Lamichhane innocent and his suspension from domestic and international cricket is lifted.”
Leg-spinner Lamichhane has so far played 51 ODIs and 52 T20Is for Nepal with 112 and 98 wickets to his credit.
He has also featured in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Delhi Capitals, in the Big Bash League for Hobart Hurricanes and for Surrey Jaguars in “The Hundred”.
He last played for Nepal in November in a T20I match against Oman at Kirtipur.