‘He has been set free by the law… I will talk to selection committee’: Nepal Cricket president wants 'innocent' Sandeep Lamichhane to play T20 World Cup 2024

Former Nepal men’s cricket team’s captain Sandeep Lamichhane was acquitted of rape charges by Patan High Court and is available to play all forms of cricket. The verdict came a little more than a couple of weeks ahead of ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Hours after Lamichhane was declared ‘innocent’ due to lack of evidence, the president of Cricket Association Nepal (CAN), Chatur Bahadur Chand, in a conversation with Sports Tak said that he will try his best to include him in the T20 World Cup squad.
 

“He has been set free by the law and we are happy for him. He was sentenced to jail by Lower Courts but today High Court set him free. We have removed the suspension as well. We have time till 25th (May) to include him in the World Cup squad,” Chand said.
 

“I will talk to the selection committee and will also write to the ICC and after taking permission from the technical committee add him in the squad. I am trying my best. Let’s hope for the best,” he added. 
 

Teams can make changes to their squad till May 25 without ICC’s approval. However, if they make the changes after the deadline, an approval from the technical committee will be required. 
 

Lamichhane can be Nepal’s impact player

The Rohit Paudel-led side lacks a premier spinner. Lamichhane is their highest wicket-taker in the format by far. He is just two wickets away from 100 wickets in the format on the international stage. Lamichhane has played franchise cricket overseas. The promiment franchises include Delhi Capitals (DC), Hobart Hurricanes, Lahore Qalandars, and Caribbean Premier League (CPL) franchises.
 

Nepal's squad for T20 World Cup 2024

Rohit Paudel (c), Aasif Sheikh, Anil Kumar Sah, Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Lalit Rajbanshi, Karan KC, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Pratis GC, Sundeep Jora, Abinash Bohara, Sagar Dhakal, Kamal Singh Airee
 

Nepal have been placed in Group D alongside the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Bangladesh. They will start their campaign against the Dutch side at Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas on June 4.
 

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