Rape-accused cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane returned to the closed camp of the national men’s cricket team on Thursday, two days after the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) lifted his suspension.

Lamichhane has been included in the closed camp even as the cricket governing body’s controversial move to lift ban on him has already been widely criticised.

CAN on Tuesday lifted the suspension on the former captain that was in place since September 8, paving the way for the 22-year-old bowler to play at national and international tournaments. He, however, has not been included in the central contract.

“Lamichhane has joined the national camp from Thursday,” said national team selector Dipendra Chaudhary.

The cricket governing body last week named a 28-member preliminary squad for the Nepal Tri-Series of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2. Nepal will host Namibia and Scotland at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground. The tri-series is scheduled to take place from February 14-21.

“Physiotherapist, trainer and coach will evaluate his fitness and decide whether or not to include him in the squad,” Chaudhary added.

CAN had suspended Lamichhane after Kathmandu District Court issued an arrest warrant against him on charge of raping a minor on August 21, a day before leaving for Kenya tour.

Lamichhane was released on Rs2 million bail with conditions by Patan High Court on January 12. If the charges against him stand, he will be imprisoned for 10 to 12 years per the existing legal provisions.

The Attorney General’s Office on Tuesday, however, moved the Supreme Court challenging the Patan High Court’s decision.

“Following an arrest warrant by the Kathmandu District Court for further investigation into rape charge, the CAN work execution committee has decided to suspend Lamichhane,” CAN had earlier said in a statement.

But in a press release on Wednesday, it said Lammichhane was suspended as a punishment for his lack of discipline and breach of code of conduct.

Lamichhane had reportedly left his hotel room on August 21 and taken the girl for an outing in Nuwakot. According to the rape complaint filed by the girl, the cricketer “had taken her to a hotel in Kathmandu and sexually abused her”.

“The suspension remained in place for more than three months. We had taken disciplinary action against him and that has now been lifted,” said Chand.

But Chand said the cricket body was not in a hurry to bring Lamichhane back to the national team.

“National committee will decide whether Lammichhane will make a comeback,” Chand added.

According to sources, Lamichhane on Wednesday met Monti Desai, who has been overseeing the training since Sunday. The Indian former cricketer is set to take over the Nepal job which has been vacant following Manoj Prabhakar’s bitter divorce with the national team.

CAN has already recommended Desai to replace Prabhakar as the national team head coach and is awaiting a formal decision from the sports governing body, National Sports Council.