A court in Nepal has found the country\u2019s highest profile cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane guilty of raping an 18-year-old woman and has fixed January 10 for his sentencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The judgement was announced after a repeatedly delayed trial that had left him free to continue his sporting career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 23-year-old has been the face of cricket in Nepal and was the only player from the country to take part in prominent Twenty20 leagues across the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was suspended as Nepal\u2019s captain last year and taken into custody after police issued an arrest warrant for him over the assault in 2022. He was later released on bail. Lamichhane could face up to 10 years in jail. His lawyers said he would appeal the verdict to a higher court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe did not expect this judgement, we are frustrated,\u201d lawyer Sabita Bhandari Baral told the Reuters news agency about Friday\u2019s verdict by the Kathmandu District Court. \u201cWe\u2019ll definitely appeal,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
District Court official Ramu Sharma confirmed the verdict to the AFP news agency. \u201cThe event was not consensual,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The former captain\u2019s on-field success has boosted the sport\u2019s profile in the Himalayan nation over the past few years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When authorities issued an arrest warrant, Lamichhane initially failed to return from Jamaica, where he was playing in the Caribbean Premier League. He was dismissed as national captain and arrested last year, but Nepal lifted his playing ban after he was freed on bail. This allowed him to remain in the national team, including for the World Cup qualifiers and September\u2019s Asia Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lamichhane has consistently denied the charge against him and enjoyed strong public support despite the accusations. Hundreds of cheering cricket fans welcomed him when he returned to the field in February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But his continued playing career has also sparked anger and caused numerous Nepalis to disavow the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scotland\u2019s cricketers refused to shake hands with him after their matches during an international tournament in Dubai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The case took more than a year to conclude after repeated delays on procedural grounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cricket has been growing in popularity in Nepal and the country was given one-day international status by the world governing body in 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lamichhane has been a major part of this rise as the most sought-after Nepali cricketer in lucrative leagues around the world. The leg spinner\u2019s big break came when he was snapped up for the lucrative Indian Premier League, the world\u2019s richest cricket tournament, in 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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