Himal Press 
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KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has denied issuing an order to allow rape-accused cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane to travel with the national team to Dubai on Saturday.
The national team is scheduled to leave for Dubai on Saturday to play the ICC World Cricket League (WCL)-2 tri-series against UAE and Papua New Guinea.
A single bench of Justice Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada made the decision. The bench also issued an order to combine another case against Sandeep for the final hearing on Sunday.
A 17-year-old girl filed a rape case against Lamichhane on September 6, accusing him of raping her twice on August 21. Initially, Lamichhane was sent to judicial custody by the Kathmandu District Court, but the Patan High Court released him on bail on January 12. However, the high court has prevented him from leaving the country.
The Attorney General’s Office has challenged the decision to release Lamichhane on bail.
After his release, Lamichhane was included in the national team and played a home tri-series against Namibia and Scotland.
He moved the Supreme Court on Wednesday, requesting the apex court to allow him to travel with the national team to Dubai.
The Supreme Court will hear both cases on Sunday.
