Nepal's Sandeep Lamichhane receives eight-year jail sentence after being found guilty of rape

In December, the Kathmandu District Court found the spinner guilty of raping an 18-year-old woman

Nepal international Sandeep Lamichhane has been sentenced to eight years in prison for rape.

In December, the Kathmandu District Court found the spinner guilty of raping an 18-year-old woman.

His lawyer, Saroj Ghimire, has told Reuters he will appeal against the verdict: "We are not convinced about the decision of the court. The court has whimsically declared Sandeep to be a convict. Sandeep will go to the higher court for justice."

^{Lamichhane continued to play for Nepal throughout 2023 [Prakask Mathema/Getty Images]}

In September 2022, an arrest warrant was issued against Lamichhane, prompting his suspension by the Cricket Association of Nepal and his premature return from the Caribbean, where he had been contracted to Jamaica Tallawahs for the 2022 CPL. Upon his arrival in Nepal, he was taken into custody.

He was later released on bail and went on to play 21 ODIs, taking 43 wickets, and eight T20Is, taking 13 wickets, for Nepal in 2023, including helping them qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup.

In total, the 23-year-old, who made his international debut in 2018, has appeared in 51 ODIs and 52 T20Is, taking 210 wickets across the formats.

He also received contracts in a number of overseas franchise competitions over the course of his career, including playing in the Big Bash, CPL, IPL and PSL.