Nepal leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane has been found guilty in the rape case. The Kathmandu district court charged him on Friday (December 29) and the next hearing will determine the jail charges against him.
A hearing related to Sandeep Lamichhane began last Sunday and today (December 29), a single bench of Justice Shishir Raj Dhakal passed the order related to his conviction in the rape case. The court also concluded that the victim girl was not a minor.
Sandeep Lamichhane was granted bail in January this year after the Patan High Court granted the order. For his release on bail, a sum of 2 million was given with conditions. Since then he has been out and playing for the national team. However, he will now be under serious scrutiny and his career could come to an end.
The Kathmandu district authority filed a case against Sandeep Lamichhane in August 2021, accusing him of raping a 17-year-old girl. The following month, the victim also lodged a complaint against him at the Gaushala Metropolitan Police Circle.
At the time the case was filed against him, the player was playing in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). He was arrested by Nepal Police at Tribhuvan International Airport on October 6, 2021.
However, after the charges were slapped on Sandeep Lamichhane, the leg-spinner was quite vocal and said he was innocent. But the court demanded compensation for the alleged physical and mental torture of the victim. His bank account and assets were frozen.
Sandeep Lamichhane’s career
Sandeep Lamichhanne has made a big name for himself in the world of cricket. He has played in leagues all over the world. He who spins the legs has played in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Pakistan Super League (PSL) and Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
It has been one of the main reasons why Nepal gained recognition in world cricket. Sandeep Lamichhane holds the record for the second fastest player to take 50 ODI wickets and the third fastest to take 50 T20I wickets.
Sandeep Lamichhane has played 51 ODIs so far and has picked 112 wickets with an average and economy of 18.07 and 4.27 respectively. In all 52 T20Is, he has managed 98 scalps in an economy of just over 6.
The player represented Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League and played 9 matches in the season. The Nepal spinner in those games picked 13 wickets and after this season with the team, he did not find any bidder.
In total, in 142 T20s, the leg-spinner has picked 206 wickets with an economy of 6.78. He has also gone into a five-wicket haul. Notably, Sandeep also upset quite a few big names with his bowling in leagues around the world.
Nepal last played against Kenya in a T20I in August this year. It remains to be seen what his future will be now following the rape charges against him.