Legspinner Sandeep Lamichhane has been named the new ODI captain for Nepal, taking over the role from Rohit Paudel. The announcement was made by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) as they revealed a 14-member squad for the upcoming ACC Men's Premier Cup, which is set to take place in Malaysia from August 30 to September 12.
This appointment marks Lamichhane's second stint as captain. His initial term was interrupted in 2022 when CAN suspended him following an arrest warrant. Subsequently, in 2023, a Kathmandu district court found him guilty of rape, but the Patan High Court later acquitted him in 2024, citing a lack of evidence. At the time of his 2022 suspension, Lamichhane held the captaincy in both white-ball formats; currently, Dipendra Singh Airee serves as the T20I captain.
Nepal's 50-over side is currently facing significant challenges, having recorded four consecutive losses in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2, leaving them in seventh place out of eight teams. Lamichhane, who has previously led the side in 14 ODIs, remains a vital part of the bowling attack. He has claimed 154 wickets in 77 matches, with his best figures being 6 for 11 against Papua New Guinea in September 2021. Beyond international cricket, he has gained extensive experience in the T20 circuit, playing 91 matches across various leagues including the IPL, PSL, BBL, CPL, and the BPL.
The player's history with CAN has seen other notable moments, including a suspension for two T20Is in October 2025 after a last-minute withdrawal. More recently, in February 2026, he participated in the T20 World Cup, where Nepal secured one win in four matches.
The squad for the ACC Men's Premier Cup includes Sandeep Lamichhane (captain), Rohit Paudel, 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.
