International Cricketers Who Have Been Arrested In Women's Assault Cases

In frame: Sandeep Lamichhane; Abishek Porel; Rubel Hossain (Source: AFP)

Bengal and Delhi Capitals wicketkeeper-batter Abishek Porel was arrested by Bengal Police on Tuesday in connection with a rape case filed by a medical student.

Porel was taken into custody in Hoogly and formally arrested after being questioned, with the 23-year-old subsequently sent for a medical examination and produced before the Chinsurah Court.

The case stems from a complaint filed by a woman at Mogra Police Station, alleging that the Delhi Capitals player established a physical relationship with her on the promise of marriage.

However, the allegations have not been established in court, and the matter remains under investigation.  

Abishek Porel enters a tainted list of cricketers arrested in assault cases related to women

Porel has been a prominent figure in Bengal cricket and has played for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League. A left-handed wicketkeeper-batter, Abishek had been steadily rising to prominence with subsequent India A call-ups.

Nonetheless, the legal case now puts a huge stain on Abishek Porel’s career, with the investigation and court proceedings set to determine his eventual fate.

Along the same line, in this article, let’s take a look at 5 international cricketers who have been arrested in assault cases related to women.  

1) Makhaya Ntini

South African pacer Makhaya Ntini, who was the first Black cricketer to have played for his country, was convicted and later sentenced to six years in prison for a 1998 rape charge in 1999.

However, the later the same year, the Grahamstown High Court completely overturned and set aside his conviction and sentence, ruling that the state's case contained major deficiencies and did not prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

In 2000–2011, Ntini resumed his international cricket career, ultimately playing 101 Test matches for South Africa.

2) Rubel Hossain

In January 2015, Bangladeshi fast bowler Rubel Hossain was briefly arrested after an actress, Naznin Akter Happy, accused him of sexual assault and reneging on a marriage promise.

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He was released on bail days later to play in the 2015 Cricket World Cup, and was completely acquitted by a Dhaka court later that year in May.

3) Luke Pomersbach

Australian cricketer Luke Pomersbach, who once played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League, was arrested in New Delhi, India, on May 18, 2012.

He faced charges of molestation, assault, and house-breaking after an incident at the ITC Maurya hotel involving a U.S. citizen and her fiancé following an IPL match.

RCB immediately suspended Luke pending an internal investigation. However, in late May 2012, the complainant withdrew the charges and reached an amicable, out-of-court settlement with the cricketer, leading the Delhi High Court to officially drop the criminal proceedings.

4) Ryan Hinds

In March 2012, former West Indies and Barbados cricketer Ryan Hinds was arrested and charged with rape following an alleged incident involving a 28-year-old woman in Barbados. He appeared at the District "B" Magistrate's Court in Bridgetown, where he was granted bail.

However, a couple of years later, all sexual assault charges against Hinds were officially dismissed in February 2014. The dismissal came after the complainant informed the court that she would not be presenting any evidence in the matter.

5) Sandeep Lamichhane

In September 2022, Kathmandu police issued an arrest warrant against high-profile Nepalese cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane following allegations from an 18-year-old woman.

Subsequently, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) suspended him as captain. He was arrested upon returning to Nepal from the West Indies.

The Kathmandu District Court found him guilty of rape and sentenced him to eight years in prison, alongside a financial penalty and compensation order.

However, only a couple of months later, a two-judge panel at the Patan High Court overturned the prison sentence due to a lack of evidence, completely clearing his name.

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