Mohammad Rizwan meets Nepal cricket team including rape accused Sandeep Lamichhane, fans enraged

Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan visited the Nepal Cricket team in Kathmandu on Sunday. Rizwan met the national players, which included rape-accused former captain Sandeep Lamichhane.

On Sunday evening, Rizwan met Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) President Chatur Bahadur Chand and had a discussion about the growth of cricket in the country.

Both players Rizwan and Lamichhane are represented by the same talent management team owned by Pakistan-based Talha Aisham, who was also part of the visit.

It is not yet clear why Rizwan met the Nepal team but his meeting with Lamichhane was slammed by cricket fans.

Fans were visibly upset after Rizwan met Lamichane with some condemning Talha for taking Rizwan to meet a person accused of rape.

Who is Sandeep Lamichhane?

The 22-year-old leg-spinner is accused of raping a 17-year-old minor on August 21 last year and was released on bail on January 13 by Patan High Court.

An investigation is being conducted against him under Section 219 of the Criminal Code 2074. If the crime against him stands, he will serve a prison term of 10-12 years.

The national cricket governing body, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), lifted the suspension imposed on the 22-year-old cricketer through its executive committee meeting on Tuesday and included him in the 20-member national team camp announced on Thursday.

The CAN had suspended him on September 8 after the Kathmandu District Court issued an arrest warrant.