Nepal spinner Sandeep Lamichhane has been sentenced to eight years in prison for raping an 18-year-old woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lamichhane, who is not in custody, was not present when the sentence was handed down at a court in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 23-year-old \u2013 Nepal\u2019s most high-profile cricketer \u2013 was found guilty of the offence last month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lamichhane\u2019s lawyer Saroj Ghimire told Reuters he intends to appeal against the verdict in a \u201chigher court\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are not convinced about the decision of the court,\u201d said Ghimire. \u201cThe court has whimsically declared Sandeep to be a convict. Sandeep will go to the higher court for justice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lamichhane \u2013 who has played in Australia\u2019s Big Bash and the Indian Premier League \u2013 was suspended as Nepal captain in September 2022 due to the rape accusation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After a warrant was issued for his arrest, he was taken into custody after flying home to Kathmandu from playing in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the time, he said on Facebook he was returning to co-operate with the investigation and denied any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following his release on bail, Lamichhane returned to the Nepal side amid protests in February 2023 for a Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series against Scotland and Namibia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Players from both opposition nations refused to shake his hand, but Lamichhane continued to play for Nepal throughout 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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