Cricket

Nepali cricket star Sandeep Lamichhane has been acquitted of rape charges by the High Court, Patan, overturning an eight-year jail sentence handed down by a lower court in January. Lamichhane, 23, was accused of raping an 18-year-old woman in 2022.Lamichhane's lawyers welcomed the decision, stating that he was not guilty and should have been cleared of the charges. The High Court's verdict, which is yet to be released in detail, concluded the hearing on Lamichhane's appeal.Lamichhane, a leg-spinner, is considered the face of cricket in Nepal and has played in prominent Twenty20 leagues in India, Australia, Pakistan, and the West Indies. He was suspended as Nepal's captain and taken into custody after police issued an arrest warrant for him over the assault. He was later released on bail.In January, the Kathmandu district court sentenced Lamichhane to eight years in jail and ordered him to pay a fine and compensation to the victim. However, his lawyers argued that the lower court's verdict was flawed and that Lamichhane was innocent.The High Court's decision to quash the conviction is a significant development in the case. Lamichhane's supporters celebrated the verdict, blowing traditional musical pipes and beating drums at the court premises.The case has drawn widespread attention in Nepal and internationally, raising questions about sexual assault and the justice system. Lamichhane's acquittal is likely to spark further debate and discussion on these important issues.

Nikhil Chaudhary, a player recently acquitted of rape charges, is expected to return to the Hobart Hurricanes in the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season. However, Cricket Tasmania, the franchise's governing body, was unaware of the criminal proceedings against Chaudhary until after the verdict.Chaudhary joined the Hurricanes in late 2023 and had his contract extended to 2027 in February, just a month before his trial. Cricket Tasmania's high performance general manager, Salliann Beams, expressed disappointment that Chaudhary had not disclosed the charges or court proceedings to the organization."It's not so much the incident because we know that nothing happened ... legally not guilty and everything," Beams said. "It's just the disclosure of information. We want to know where we sit on that because we were completely in the dark."Beams acknowledged the legal complexities surrounding the situation, noting that Chaudhary was advised not to discuss the matter. However, she emphasized the importance of transparency and the potential impact on the franchise's reputation."You have to deal with the organization's point of view and the impact that it could potentially have on that," she said. "Because you don't really want to associate yourself with ... that type of investigation."Despite the concerns, Beams indicated that Chaudhary is likely to play in the upcoming BBL season. "There are some legalities through that process," she said. "But at the same time, you can understand from the players' point of view is that, you know, they've done nothing wrong and it's a scary place."Chaudhary played nine games for the Hurricanes in the previous BBL season, averaging 26 with the bat and taking five wickets. The team missed out on the finals.