Sandeep Lamichhane (Cricketer) Wiki, Age, Girlfriend, Family, Biography & More

Sandeep Lamichhane is a Nepali cricketer. He is one of the first eleven players who played for the National Cricket Team of Nepal. He is the first Nepali player to have played in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Wiki/Biography

Sandeep was born on 2 August 2000 (age 22 years, as of 2022) in Syangja, Nepal. In childhood, he moved to Chitwan district and began his training at Chitwan Cricket Academy which was run by the former captain of Nepal,  Raju Khadka. Under the guidance of Pubudu Dassanayake and Raju Khadka, he sharpened his skills and got selected to the national under-19 training camp.

Physical Appearance

• Height (approx.): 5′ 6″

Family

Sandeep was born to Chander Narayan Lamichhane who has served in the Indian Railways. His mother’s name is not known.

He has one brother, Mohan Lamichhane (Elder) and one sister, Indu Lamichhane Neupane.

Career

International 

On 16 April 2016, in the 2015–17 ICC World Cricket League Championship, he made his List A debut against  Namibia. Subsequently, he played the 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup for Nepal and in the second match against Ireland, he took a hat-trick. In the Under-19 World Cup, he was the second highest wicket-taker. In September 2016, former Australian skipper Michael Clarke got impressed by his game and invited him to play at the Sydney-based Western Suburbs District Cricket Club.

In January 2018, Sandeep was selected in Nepal’s squad for the 2018 ICC World Cricket League Division Two tournament. In the very first match against Namibia, he was given ‘Man of the Match’ for his outstanding bowling performance of 4/18 in 8.2 overs. After a streak of good performances, he was named the Player of the Tournament. In May 2018, he made his T20 debut after being selected to the ICC Rest of the World XI team for the Hurricane Relief T20 Challenge against the West Indies at Lord’s. On 1 August 2018, he made his ODI debut against the Netherlands. During the 2018–19 ICC World Twenty20 Asia Qualifier tournament, he was the leading wicket-taker with 24 dismissals in 6 matches.

Domestic

In 2018, he was bought by the IPL Team, Delhi Daredevils for ₹20 Lakh . He was the first Nepali player to play in IPL. Over his selection in IPL, the then Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi commented that because of signing, the relation between Nepal and India has got strengthened .

In March 2018, he was drafted for St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). In October 2018, he was signed by the Melbourne Stars for the Big Bash League (BBL) and he became the first Nepali player to play in BBL. Later the same month, he was drafted for the Bangladesh Premier League and represented Sylhet Sixers. In November 2018, Sandeep was also drafted for Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League.

Records/Achievements

• The fifth bowler to take a hat-trick in the ICC Under-19 World Cup.

• The first Nepali Player to play in Indian Premier League, Big Bash League, etc.

Controversy

In September 2022, a 17-year-old girl accused him of sexual harassment, and she filed a complaint against the cricketer at Gaushala Metropolitan Police Circle. In her complaint, she said that being a fan of the cricketer, she started interacting with him via WhatsApp and Snapchat, and on 21 August 2022, he sexually harassed her. Later, Interpol issued a diffusion notice against the cricketer who had been on the run since the girl filed a complaint against him. After a diffusion notice was issued against him, Lamichhane took to Facebook to prove his innocence. He said,

All the allegations against me have affected me mentally. I am in mental stress and ill health, and have kept myself in isolation. I have been following the doctor’s advice,” Lamichhane said. “I will come back to Nepal as soon as possible.”

Lamichhane was arrested in October 2022; however, he was later granted release on a bail bond of Rs. 2 million under certain conditions. On 29 December 2023, the Kathmandu District Court held him convicted of rape. On 10 January 2024, a Nepal court sentenced him to imprisonment for 8 years and imposed a Rs. 3,00,000 fine on him. The court, moreover, directed him to pay a compensation of Rs. 2,00,000 to the victim.

Awards

• NNIPA Best Youth Player of the year (2017)

• NCCS-CPAN Cricketer of the Year (2018)

Favourites

• Cricketer(s): Sachin Tendulkar, Shane Warne

Facts

• When he was a child, his family moved to Haryana, India.

• Later, when he was only 11 years old, he went back to Nepal and joined Chitwan Cricket Academy in Narayangarh, Bharatpur, Nepal.

• Sandeep also got a chance to play ‘Australian Grade Cricket’ in Sydney, Australia.

• He is the brand ambassador for ‘Invento Engineering & Consultant Private Limited.’

• International Cricket Council named him among the top 10 players for the ‘2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier’ tournament.

• His hobbies are travelling, listening to music, singing, playing guitar, etc.

  Sandeep Lamichhane playing guitar

• Here is an interview with Sandeep Lamichhane.