The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) on Thursday suspended national all-rounder Sandeep Lamichhane after the Kathmandu District Court issued an arrest warrant on a rape charge. The suspension will cost him the franchise’s international tour contracts.
The court issued an arrest warrant acting on a case filed by the Gaushala Police Circle after a 17-year-old girl on Tuesday accused the leg-turner of raping her on August 21, a day before the national cricket team left for for the Kenya tour.
“The suspension by the board means that he has also not only been suspended from national duty but from all overseas franchise tournaments,” CAN acting secretary Prashant Bikram Malla said.
Lamichhane is currently in Trinidad & Tobago playing in the Caribbean Premier League for the Jamaica Tallawahs. “We hope Cricket West Indies, the tournament organizers, will ask CAN and suspend him from playing the remaining matches,” Malla added.
An approval from the domestic cricket board is mandatory for a player to participate in international franchise tournaments. Also in Lamichhane’s case, the cricket governing body had issued his ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) before his departure for the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). But his suspension from the board means he will also be automatically suspended from the CPL.
Lamichhane, the most sought-after cricketer from Nepal, has played in mega-tournaments of cash-rich international franchises such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL), Pakistan Super League and the Global T20 League. Canada, among other international franchises.
Issuing a statement late Thursday evening, CAN said, “…..following an arrest warrant from the Kathmandu District Court for further investigation into the rape allegations, the CAN task force committee has decided to suspend Lamichhane.”
Lamichhane had flown to Trinidad & Tobago from Kenya after playing a five-match Twenty20 International series. He did not play the remaining two matches of the One Day Series of the Kenya tour and flew to Trinidad & Tobago to play the Caribbean Premier League.
After his suspension, he will not be drafted to any other out-of-state league until he gets a clean slate.
Former national cricket captain LB Chhetri believes Lamichhane failed to understand the dignity of his position as national captain. “As the national cricket captain, Lamichhane is a role model and a national hero. But he failed to justify his role,” said Chhetri. “If the allegations against him are proven, it is unlikely that he will ever return to the field for psychological, social and cultural reasons.”
“But if he gets a clean slate and gets the ideal psychological counseling, he can still be back to his best. There are several examples of cricketers aged 35 or over playing top level cricket. Lamichhane is only 22 years old,” added Chhetri.
