CAN announces preliminary squad for tri-series, Sandeep Lamichhane not included in the team

Published On: January 28, 2023 10:30 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, Jan 28: The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has announced a preliminary squad of 28 players for Nepal’s tri-series against Namibia and Scotland in February under the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League-2. Team Nepal’s suspended captain Sandeep Lamichhane, who is facing a court case for raping a minor but was recently released from prison on bail, has not been included in the squad.

Lamichhane was arrested by the police on October 6 after a rape complaint was filed against him. He was remanded in custody for investigation by the District Court Kathmandu after a case was filed against him for raping a minor.

Lamichhane appealed the decision and the High Court Patan ordered his release on a bail of Rs 2 million. He was set free on January 13 on certain terms and conditions that binds him from leaving Kathmandu without prior permission from the police.

Mausam Dhakal, Ankit Subedi and Surya Tamang are the new faces in the cricket squad.

Similarly, Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Gyanendra Malla, Rohit Kumar Paudel Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulsan Jha, Karan KC, Sompal Kami, Sharad Vesawakar, Lalit Rabanshi, Binod Bhandari, Sagar Dhakal and Sandeep Jora are alsi in the team.

Kishore Mahato, Kamal Singh Airee, Siddhant Lonhi, Arjun Chand, Avinash Bohora, Vivek Yadav, Bhim Sarki, Kushal Malla, Anil Kumar Shah, Bikram Sob and Bhuvan Sarki have also been called for the closed-camp training.

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 is a two-and-half-year competition involving seven teams that are two steps away from the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

According to the ICC, the Men’s CWC League 2 - which sits one tier under the Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League - will see 21 tri-series played.

Participating teams Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, United Arab Emirates and United States of America will play 36 One Day Internationals each on the Road to India 2023.

Nepal is currently second from bottom in the seven-team competition with 8 wins, 14 losses and one draw in 24 matches played so far.

Nepal will host the tri-series against Namibia and Scotland from February 14 to 21 at TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.