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Lionel Messi was named FIFA player of the year on Monday after winning his maiden World Cup title with Argentina in December in Qatar, Reuters reported.

The 35-year-old forward scored two goals in the World Cup final, which Argentina won on penalties against France following a 3-3 draw after extra time.

A hearing is taking place at the Supreme Court today on whether to keep former national cricket team captain Sandeep Lamichhane in judicial custody or continue his release on bail. Likewise, the appeal by the leg spinner, who is accused of raping a minor, to be allowed to travel outside the country to play cricket will also be heard today. The single bench of Supreme Court Justice Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, while hearing the appeal by Lamichhane on Friday, had ordered the hearing to be scheduled for today. The hearing on Sunday will focus on whether High Court Patan's order to release Lamichhane on a bail of Rs 2 million was correct or not. If the Supreme Court upholds the order of the High Court, then the appeal by Lamichhane for traveling outside the country will be heard. The case of rape filed against Lamichhane is pending at Kathmandu district court. The Office of the Attorney General had filed the petition challenging the high court's decision to release Lamichhane on bail. Both applications are being heard before a division bench consisting of two justices today.

With Dipendra Singh Airee’s unbeaten 85 runs, Nepal thrashed Scotland by three wickets in the tri-nation ODI series under the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 on Friday. Nepal won the toss and invited Scotland to bat first. Scotland posted a total of 274 in the allotted 50 overs. The host reached the target in the 47 overs by losing seven wickets in the second inning. Singh, who came to bat at number seven, played an unbeaten half-century innings with eight fours and one six off 116 balls. Prior to him, Kushal Malla completed 50 runs off 42 balls with the help of six fours and three sixes. Malla, who came to bat at number five, scored 81 runs hitting nine fours and four sixes before being dismissed in the 28th overs. Nepal’s opener Kushal Bhurtel and Gulsam Jha contributed 16 runs and 17 runs respectively and Sompal Kami scored unbeaten 24 runs. Other players failed to score in double numbers. Sandeep Lamichhane took three wickets for the team. Similarly, Kushal Malla, Sompal Kami, Kushal Bhurtel and Dipendra Singh Airee took one wicket each. This is the second win of Nepal in the series. In the first match, Nepal outplayed Namibia by two wickets. Likewise, Scotland defeated Namibia by 10 wickets on Wednesday. With the victory, Scotland has already become the champion of World Cup Cricket League 2. Nepal will play with Namibia in the second match of the series on Saturday. In addition to that, Nepal and Scotland will lock their horns in the last match of the series on Tuesday.  

International Taekwondo referee Dipendra Dhakal has left for Uzbekistan to participate in Olympic referee selection and closed training on Friday. The decisive selection and closed training is being conducted on Feb 12-14. International Referee Dhakal was recently promoted to the second class in the Kyorugi category. The World Taekwondo Referee Committee sent Dhakal a promotion certificate a few days ago. It took Dhakal four years to get promoted from the third class to the second class.