Former Big Bash League star spin bowler Sandeep Lamichhane has been arrested upon his return to Nepal.
Lamichhane has been charged by Nepalese police with alleged sexual assault against a minor in early September, and returned to the country on Thursday.
He was arrested at the airport and has been taken into police custody.
He wrote in a statement on his Facebook that he would fully cooperate in all stages of the investigation. Lamichhane is vowing to fight the charges and prove his innocence.
Former Nepali National team captain Sandeep Lamichhane, accused of raping a minor, to return to Kathmandu, Nepal at 10am (local time)
"I will fully cooperate in all stages of investigation and will fight legal battle to prove my innocence," says his Facebook post. https://t.co/sWTIM5WVNM pic.twitter.com/X1PNPauyqK
— ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2022
Reports suggest a girl under the age of 18 filed the alleged case against the spin bowler for an incident which occurred on August 21 in Kathmandu.
Lamichhane has previously played for both the Melbourne Stars and the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League, and had become a T20 gun for hire around the world, playing 136 matches in the format.
He quickly rose to prominence as one of the trickiest bowlers in the world to read, averaging 15.75 with the ball in T20 cricket, and 11.7 in his 43 international T20 matches for Nepal, while he has also played 30 ODIs for the nation.
Lamichhane had taken over as captain of Nepal in December of 2021, but was stood down by the Cricket Association of Nepal following the allegations against him coming to light.
