New Delhi: Rape accused Nepali cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane has got a big relief. He can now join his team in Dubai for the International Tri-Series. The Supreme Court of Nepal has lifted his travel ban on Monday. Along with this, his bail has been retained. Lamichhane, 22, is accused of raping a 17-year-old girl in a hotel room in Kathmandu in August. “After our appeal, today the court has opened the door for him to travel abroad to play,” Saroj Ghimire, Lamichhane’s lawyer, told AFP.
Efforts will be made to include Lamichhane in the team
Nepal’s national team is in Dubai. The International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup is playing as part of the League 2 tri-series against the United Arab Emirates and Papua New Guinea. The country’s cricket association said efforts would be made to include Lamichhane in the team. The court also rejected an appeal by the Attorney General of Nepal seeking cancellation of his bail.
Recently appeared on the field
Lamichhane had initially failed to return from Jamaica, where he was playing in the Caribbean Premier League. Authorities issued a warrant for his arrest in September. He was arrested after fleeing in October, but was released on conditional bail in January. After this he was banned from traveling abroad. He was also suspended from the captaincy by the Cricket Association of Nepal. However, he was allowed back on the field two weeks early. He was seen performing brilliantly for his team in the tri-series matches against Scotland and Namibia in Kathmandu.
The name has been associated with IPL
Although the ICC did not comment on Lamichhane’s selection, Scottish cricketers refused to shake his hand after their matches. The star spin-bowler was once the poster boy in Nepal. He got his big break when he was bought by Delhi Capitals for the Indian Premier League in 2018. He has been the most sought-after cricketer of Nepal since then.
