Asia Cup 2023: Nepal heads to Pakistan, rape accused Sandeep Lamichane in hospital to stand trial

The Nepal cricket team traveled to Pakistan on August 22 ahead of the 2023 Asian Cup but its star spinner Sandeep Lamichane stayed home.

The 23-year-old faces rape charges and is out on bail. For legal reasons, he is obliged to remain in Nepal to stand trial.

From the current situation, Nepal may lose the performance of cricket star players in the Asian Cup.

Lamichane is accused of raping a 17-year-old girl in a hotel room in Kathmandu last August. The leg-turner, who also became the first and only Nepali cricketer to play in the Indian League, has maintained his innocence and refuted all allegations against him.