In a recent development in the world of cricket, the Scotland cricket team has made headlines for refusing to shake hands with Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane, who has been accused of rape. Lamichhane was in Scotland to play for the Edinburgh Rocks in the Euro T20 Slam, a new T20 league comprising six teams from three countries.
The incident took place before the start of the match between the Rocks and the Glasgow Giants, which was held at the Grange Cricket Club in Edinburgh. As per the customary practice in cricket, the two teams were supposed to shake hands with each other and the match officials before the start of the game. However, the Scotland players refused to shake hands with Lamichhane, citing the serious allegations against him.
In a statement issued by Cricket Scotland, the governing body of cricket in Scotland, the board expressed support for the players’ decision. “Cricket Scotland supports the team’s decision not to shake hands with Sandeep Lamichhane. We take any allegation of misconduct very seriously and believe that it is important to maintain the integrity of the sport and protect the welfare of all those involved in it,” the statement read.
This is not the first time that Lamichhane has been embroiled in controversy. In 2020, he was accused of sexual harassment by a former employee of his charity foundation, which led to a social media campaign against him. Lamichhane denied the allegations and filed a defamation case against the accuser. The case is currently ongoing in Nepal.
The incident involving the Scotland cricket team has once again raised questions about the role of sports bodies in dealing with allegations of misconduct by players. While some have criticized the Scotland players for not following the spirit of sportsmanship, others have lauded their stance as a bold step towards holding players accountable for their actions.
As the world of sports continues to grapple with issues of sexual harassment and assault, it is important for sports bodies to take a proactive role in addressing such concerns. The incident involving the Scotland cricket team and Sandeep Lamichhane serves as a reminder of the need for greater awareness and sensitivity towards these issues.
Following the Scotland cricket team’s refusal to shake hands with Sandeep Lamichhane, the Nepal cricketer accused of rape, the incident has sparked a debate on how sports organizations should handle allegations of misconduct.
On one hand, critics argue that the players did not follow the spirit of sportsmanship, while others support the team’s stance as a courageous move towards holding players accountable for their actions. It highlights the need for sports organizations to play a proactive role in addressing concerns about sexual harassment and assault.
The incident is not the first time Lamichhane has been embroiled in controversy. In 2020, he was accused of sexual harassment by a former employee of his charity foundation, which led to a social media campaign against him. The player denied the allegations and filed a defamation case against the accuser, which is currently ongoing in Nepal.
Cricket Scotland supported the team’s decision not to shake hands with Lamichhane and issued a statement saying, “We take any allegation of misconduct very seriously and believe that it is important to maintain the integrity of the sport and protect the welfare of all those involved in it.”
The incident has also raised questions about the wider issue of sexual harassment and assault in sports, with many calling for more action to be taken. In recent years, a number of high-profile cases have come to light, including the Larry Nassar case in gymnastics, the Jerry Sandusky case in football, and the US women’s national soccer team’s allegations of unequal pay and treatment.
To combat these issues, sports organizations around the world have taken steps to improve safeguarding and raise awareness of the issue. The International Olympic Committee launched the “SafeSport” campaign in 2018, aimed at preventing all forms of harassment and abuse in sports, while FIFA has introduced guidelines to prevent harassment and abuse in football.
In conclusion, the Scotland cricket team’s decision not to shake hands with Sandeep Lamichhane, the accused rapist, has sparked debate on how sports organizations should handle allegations of misconduct. While some criticize the team for not following the spirit of sportsmanship, others praise their stance as a bold move towards holding players accountable for their actions. This incident highlights the need for sports organizations to take a proactive role in addressing concerns about sexual harassment and assault.
