Sandeep granted Grade A contract by CAN

KATHMANDU: Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has offered a Grade ‘A’ contract to legspinner Sandeep Lamichhane.

A meeting of the executive committee of CAN held in Kathmandu on Friday took the decision.

The contract will be valid from July till December. Lamichhane will draw a monthly salary of Rs 100,000.

With this, the number of cricketers with Grade A contracts has reached six. Captain Rohit Paudel, Sompal Kami, Dipendra Singh Airee, Aasif Shaikh, and Kushal Bhurtel are the other cricketers with Grade A contracts.

CAN named Lamichhane in the national squad to play in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup following his acquittal of a rape charge by the Patan High Court on May 15.

Although Lamichhane was denied a visa to play Nepal’s first two matches against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka in the US, Lamichhane played against South Africa and Bangladesh. He took two wickets against Bangladesh with an economy of 4.25.

The meeting also decided to build turf pitches and indoor training centers in all seven provinces. Likewise, CAN has decided to appoint development officers in all seven provinces.

CAN has formed a seven-member Women’s Development Committee for the effective development of women’s cricket in the country.

Similarly, the meeting decided to suspend women’s cricketer Apsari Begam and initiate an investigation against her for allegedly misbehaving with the team manager and head coach during closed camp training.

CAN has also handed over the responsibility of making a decision on lifting the suspension of cricketer Aadil Alam, who was suspended on match-fixing charges, within a week.

CAN also decided to organize the Nepal Premier League – a franchise-based T20 league – in November-December.