Sandeep Lamichhane has been appointed Nepal’s ODI captain ahead of the ACC Men’s Premier Cup, marking his return to the leadership role in the 50-over format after a four-year gap.
The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) announced a 14-member squad for the tournament, which will be played in Malaysia from August 30 to September 12. Lamichhane replaces Rohit Paudel as Nepal’s ODI captain, while Dipendra Singh Airee continues to lead the side in T20I cricket.
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The appointment gives Lamichhane a second opportunity to captain Nepal in ODIs. His first stint came to an abrupt end in 2022 after CAN suspended him following the issuance of an arrest warrant against him.
Lamichhane was subsequently convicted of rape by a Kathmandu district court in 2023. However, the Patan High Court acquitted him in 2024, citing a lack of evidence. Following the acquittal, he returned to international cricket and was considered for Nepal’s squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
At the time of his suspension in 2022, Lamichhane was Nepal’s captain across both white-ball formats. His return to the ODI leadership role now comes as Nepal look to recover from a difficult period in the 50-over game.
Nepal recently endured four consecutive defeats in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2, leaving them seventh among the eight teams in the competition. The results have increased the importance of the upcoming ACC Premier Cup as Nepal seek to rebuild momentum in ODI cricket.
Lamichhane brings considerable experience to the role. He has already captained Nepal in 14 ODIs and remains one of the country’s most important bowling options. The legspinner has taken 154 wickets in 77 matches across formats, including career-best ODI figures of 6 for 11 against Papua New Guinea in September 2021.
His wristspin has also made him a sought-after player in franchise cricket around the world. Lamichhane has featured in 91 matches across major T20 competitions, including the Indian Premier League, Pakistan Super League, Big Bash League, Caribbean Premier League and Bangladesh Premier League.
His recent international career, however, has included some setbacks. In October 2025, CAN suspended him for two T20Is after he withdrew from a match at short notice. He was later part of Nepal’s campaign at the 2026 T20 World Cup in February, where Nepal managed one victory from four matches.
The new captain will now be tasked with guiding Nepal through the ACC Men’s Premier Cup and helping the team regain consistency in the 50-over format.
The 14-member Nepal squad includes Lamichhane as captain, with former skipper Rohit Paudel retaining his place. Aasif Sheikh, Arjun Kumal, Dev Khanal, Dipendra Singh Airee, Basir Ahamad, Ishan Pandey, Gulshan Kumar Jha, Sher Malla, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, Karan KC, Hemant Dhami and Sundeep Jora are the other members of the squad.
With experienced players such as Paudel, Airee and Karan KC alongside Lamichhane, Nepal will hope to make a strong showing in Malaysia. For Lamichhane, the tournament represents both a return to ODI captaincy and an opportunity to help Nepal revive its fortunes in the 50-over format.
