I am a victim of conspiracy: Sandeep Lamichhane issues an official statement after T20 World Cup 2024 snub

Disgraced Nepal cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane, on Wednesday (May 1), alleged conspiracy against him after failing to find a spot in Nepal's squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

In January this year, the spinner was sentenced to eight years in jail by a Kathmandu court for rape. He was accused of raping a 17-year-old girl in August 2022. Later, he was arrested for the crime but was soon released on bail and he continued representing Nepal in international cricket.

He was even named in Nepal's Asia Cup squad and played in both the league games against Pakistan and India. In December last year, a single-judge bench of the Kathmandu District Court finally found Sandeep Lamichhane guilty of rape. Later in January, his lengthy prison sentence was announced.

He was also with a fine of Rs 300,000 (USD 2255 approx) and was ordered to pay Rs 200,000 (USD 1500 approx) in compensation to the victim. A day after the court announced the sentence, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) suspended the 23-year-old.

Sandeep Lamichhane reacts after missing out on T20 World Cup spot:

Recently, Sandeep Lamichhane appealed the Kathmandu District Court's decision in the Patan High Court. As he waits to learn his fate from the High Court, he decides to express his displeasure over missing out on the World Cup spot.

Soon after Nepal's squad for the marquee event was announced, he took to X (formerly Twitter) to react. He first posted a smiling emoji before alleging conspiracy against him. Without speaking directly about the T20 World Cup snub, the spinner, who once plied his trade in the IPL, wrote:

"I refrained myself from long to post. I have no doubt that I am a victim of conspiracy. May God bless them all who played their roles in this conspiracy. I leave everything up to God. Time will tell the truth unless revealed."

🙂

— Sandeep Lamichhane (@Sandeep25) M<!---->a<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

I refrained myself from long to post. I have no doubt that I am a victim of conspiracy. May God bless them all who played their roles in this conspiracy. I leave everything up to God. Time will tell the truth unless revealed.🙏

— Sandeep Lamichhane (@Sandeep25) M<!---->a<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Meanwhile, Rohit Paudel will lead Nepal in the T20 World Cup. Nepal will be participating in the T20 World Cup for the second time and the first time since 2014.

Nepal squad:

Rohit Paudel (c), Aasif Sheikh, Anil Kumar Sah, Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Lalit Rajbanshi, Karan KC, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Pratis GC, Sundeep Jora, Abinash Bohara, Sagar Dhakal, Kamal Singh Airee