Rape-accused leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane will join the national cricket team in the United Arab Emirates for the UAE Tri Series of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2, Cricket Association of Nepal said on Wednesday.

“Lamichhane will join Team Nepal as a replacement for Shyam (Mousam) Dhakal, who was injured during net practice,” CAN, the country’s cricket governing body, said in a Facebook post. “Mousam suffered a shoulder injury while batting in the net practice session on February 28.”

Lamichhane was dropped from the UAE Tri Series after the Supreme Court refused to issue any order allowing him to travel abroad.

However, on Wednesday, acting on a petition filed by the cricketer, the apex court lifted the travel ban saying Lamichhane’s conducts were satisfactory.

The top court also upheld the Patan High Court’s decision to release Lamichhane on bail. A division bench of justices Dhruva Raj Nanda and Ramesh Dahal on January 12 had ordered the release of Lamichhane on bail with conditions.The court barred Lamichhane from traveling abroad and directed him to inform the police while leaving Kathmandu.

Lamichhane has been accused of raping a 17-year-old minor on August 21. The rape case against Lamichhane is still sub judice at the Kathmandu District Court.

Following the release, the 22-year-old was included in the 14-member final squad for the home matches of the Nepal-Namibia-Scotland Tri Series of the League 2.

Lamichhane started in all four matches at the TU cricket ground and took 13 wickets in four innings.

Nepal won all four One-Day International matches for a historic series sweep, also becoming the second team after Oman to achieve such a feat. The wins not only boosted Nepal’s hopes of retaining their ODI status but also reignited their bid for a direct qualification to ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Qualifiers in Zimbabwe next year.

The Rhinos also extended their winning streak to record five games after they beat Papua New Guinea by four wickets on Tuesday.

Nepal are scheduled to play against the UAE on Thursday.

This will be Nepal’s final international tour of the League 2 Series. Nepal have 28 points from 29 matches and need four victories from their remaining seven matches to secure top five finish and retain ODI status.

Following the conclusion of the UAE Tri Series, Nepal will play their remaining matches at home against the same teams later this month.