KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 1

Suspended cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane reiterated his innocence in the rape case and hoped for "fair trail from law enforcement authorities and honorable courts".

Lamichhane, who has been accused of raping a minor multiple times, appeared on social media platforms today and said he will be returning to Nepal on Thursday. "With great hope and strength, I hereby confirm that I am reaching to my home country Nepal on 6th October 2022 and will submit myself to the authority of Nepal to fight a legal battle against false allegation," Lamichhane wrote on Facebook.

"I hereby reiterate that I am INNOCENT and I have complete non-shaken faith in justice system. I firmly believe over all the law enforcement authorities and honorable courts on their fair trial and adjudication and I am just hopeful to get justice at the earliest," added Lamichhane, who was suspended by the Cricket Association of Nepal after Nepal Police issued an arrest warrant on September 8. The Tribhuvan International Airport Immigration Department has blacklisted him upon request from Nepal Police.

"My dear well wishers, I assure you all that I am innocent and I have not wronged you. I have recovered from unpleasant situation I went through and I have prepared myself to go through this ordeal to prove myself innocent and victim of conspiracy. I am sure all wrongful allegations charged against me will be unfolded by the span of time," Lamichhane concluded with Namaste emoji.

This is the fourth time Lamichhane posted status on social media sites saying he would surrender and fight a legal battle but has dodged Nepal Police and authorities each time. He claimed that he was in isolation due to mental trauma caused by the false accusation six days ago, while Lamichhane said he would return to Nepal in a couple of days after taking break from CPL on September 9.

A 17- year-old girl filed an FIR at Gaushala Police Circle accusing Lamichhane of raping her multiple times at a hotel in Kathmandu on August 21, on the eve of national team's departure to Nairobi for fivematch Twenty20 International and three-match One Day Series against Kenya. After leading Nepal to 3-2 victory in the T20I series and also claiming the player-of-the-series award, the globe-trotting cricketer left for the West Indies to play for Jamaica Tallawahs in the Caribbean Premier League.

Lamichhane rose to stardom after he was picked up in the Indian Premier League by Delhi Daredevils in 2018. The first Nepali cricketer to play in the money-spinning IPL, Lamichhane made a fairytale tour across the globe, after being snapped up by Australia's Big Bash, Sri Lanka Premier League, CPL, Pakistan Premier League, T10 League in the UAE, and England's The Hundred.

A version of this article appears in the print on October 2, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.