The Nepal Police has decided to seek help from Interpol to nab the fugitive cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane against whom an arrest warrant has been issued after a 17-year-old girl accused him of rape earlier this month. 22-year-old Lamichhane was playing in Caribbean Premier League (CPL 2022) and later released a statement that the case has made him ill, affecting him mentally and physically, and added that he is planning to return to Nepal when his health improves.
Confirming the same in his Facebook post, Sandeep Lamichhane wrote: “I was not able to think about what to do and what not to do. All these things affected me mentally on one hand and on the other hand, I had to go through illness, and due to mental stress and ill health, I kept myself in isolation.”
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He further added, “I have been mentally and physically affected by the portrayal and I have reached a state of imbalance and I have been bringing myself back to a normal state under the advice of doctors. My health is gradually improving, and I am planning to return to Nepal as soon as possible to defend against the false complaint against me.”
Now Interpol has issued a “diffusion” notice against him on Sunday asking member countries for their co-operation locating him, Nepali police spokesperson Tek Prasad Rai told AFP. He said, “We hope this will help the arrest of Lamichhane for the investigation of a rape complaint case against him.”
After the arrest warrant was issued, Sandeep Lamichhane was suspended as the captain of the national team and he pulled out of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), where he was playing for the Jamaica Tallawahs.
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Sandeep Lamichhane was also the first Nepalese cricketer to feature in IPL auction. The young spinner was picked up Delhi Daredevils (now known as Delhi Capitals). Lamichhane made his debut against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2018. So far, he has played 30 ODI and 44 T20I for Nepal, picking up 69 wickets and 85 wickets respectively.