CAN lifts suspension of leg-spinner Lamichhane

By Ramesh Paudel,Pokhara, Feb. 2: The executive committee meeting of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) on Wednesday decided to revoke the suspension of former national team captain Sandeep Lamichhane.

After Lamichhane was arrested by Nepal Police for allegedly raping the minor, the governing body of Nepali cricket suspended the leg-spinner. Following the decision of Patan High Court to bail Lamichhane out of custody, CAN decided to lift his suspension after five months. However, the decision came after the Attorney General’s Office on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court challenging the Patan High Court’s decision to release Lamichhane on bail with conditions. 

The revoking of the suspension from CAN also paved the way for the 22-year-old to play for the national team. Nepal is hosting the Tri-Series for ICC World Cricket League-2 against Namibia and Scotland at TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur.

The meeting of the CAN central committee also made decisions on 13 topics including lifting Lamichhane’s suspension. 

The meeting, however, was rocked after seven CAN board members demanded the resignation of President Chatur Bahadur Chand, Acting Secretary Prashant Bikram Malla and Treasurer Roshan Singh along with members Durga Raj Pathak and Padam Khadka over the spot-fixing scandal during the Nepal T20 League. President Chand during the press meeting organized to make public the ExCo decisions blamed the disgruntled members for trying to dissolve the CAN. “To demand my resignation is to lead the cricket association towards dissolution.” 

The disgruntled members (Rishi Raj Gautam, Daud Ansari, Sanjay Raj Singh, Kiran Mahatara Chhetri, Amit Bir Pandey, Chumbi Lama and Dharma Raj Giri) also boycott the meeting that started on Tuesday in Pokhara.

Elective Assembly on June

Chand claimed that his resignation can be demanded at General Assembly as per CAN statute. Resignation is not a solution. Everyone should unite to take Nepali cricket ahead. The association is ready to rectify the errors it made.”  

“I follow the statute. The more important job now is to hold the general assembly. We have decided to hold the annual general assembly on February 26-27 in Surkhet.” 

The elective assembly of the CAN has been decided to be held in June. 

Central contract

The CAN also decided to make the central contract with 18 male and 12 female cricketers for six months from January to June 2023. Rohit Paudel, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Dipendra Singh Airee and Aasif Sheikh are categorized in Grade A for the central contract. 

Aarif Sheikh, Kushal Bhurtel and Gyanendra Malla are classified in Grade B. Kamal Singh Airee, Binod Bhandari, Gulshan Kumar Jha, Arjun Saud, Abinash Bohara, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, Kushal Malla, Dev Khanal, Sagar Dhakal and Bibek Yadav is grouped in Grade c. 

However, Sharad Vesawakar has been out of the central contract for the first time. The senior national player is out of form in recent years. He was downgraded to Grade B in 2022 and 2021. Along with Vesawakar, Bikram Sob, Pawan Sarraf, Sahab Aalam and Shushan Bhari are also out of central contract. 

Similarly, CAN reduced the number of women players from 18 to 12 in the central contract. The Association categorized Rubina Chhetri, Sita Rana Magar and Indu Verma in Grade A. Kajol Shrestha, Kabita Kunwar and Asmina Karmacharya are in Grade B. Kabita Joshi, Bindu Rawal, Sangita Rai, Mamata Chaudhary, Jyoti Pandey and Apsari Begam are in Grade C. 

The cricket association also named Gulshan Kumar Jha as the captain of the U19 National Cricket Team.  The CAN also recognized the ad-hoc committee of Baglung and Parbat Districts. The membership of both districts will be ratified during the general assembly. 

The ExCo meeting also formed a three-member integrity committee coordinated by the Former Deputy Inspector General of Nepal Police Ishwor Babu Karki. The committee also consist of Anti-Corruption Officer Rites Singh. The third member of the committee will be nominated later, said the CAN. 

The meeting also dissolute the Governing Council formed to hold the Nepal T20 League.  The meeting also agreed to discontinue the contract with Seven3Sports from its assembly. 

CAN appointed Durga Raj Pathak as its Acting secretary after Prashant Bikram Malla gave his resignation at the meeting.