I am free, says Sreesanth as spot-fixing ban ends

The 37-year-old has already made it clear that he intends to resume at least his domestic career at the end of the ban and his home state Kerala has promised to consider him if he manages to prove his fitness.

The India international — who took 87 wickets in 27 Tests along with two World Cup titles — was banned by the BCCI for his alleged involvement in the IPL spot-fixing scandal six years ago.

India pacer S. Sreesanth’s ban for alleged spot-fixing came to an end on Sunday, concluding a seven-year punishment that was originally meant to be for life and was aggressively contested by the flamboyant bowler.

The 37-year-old has already made it clear that he intends to resume at least his domestic career at the end of the ban and his home state Kerala has promised to consider him if he manages to prove his fitness.

I'm completely free of any charges nd anything nd now gonna represent the sport I love the most.will give my very best to every ball I ball even it's just practice.just have another 5 to 7 years max to give it all I've got nd I will give the very best to any team I play

— Sreesanth (@sreesanth36) September 10, 2020

 

“I’m completely free of any charges and anything nd now gonna represent the sport I love the most. will give my very best to every ball I ball even it’s just practice. just have another 5 to 7 years max to give it all I’ve got nd I will give the very best to any team I play (sic),” he tweeted on Friday, a couple of days before the end of his suspension.

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However, with the Indian domestic season postponed at present due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it remains to be seen when exactly Sreesanth can make a comeback if Kerala decides to give him a chance.

The Indian domestic season was to start in August, but the pandemic has left the scheduling in complete disarray.

”...the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) is making all efforts to ensure that domestic cricket resumes as and when the conditions permit,” BCCI president Sourav Ganguly wrote in a recent letter to presidents and secretaries of its affiliated member associations.

Sreesanth’s life ban for alleged spot-fixing in the 2013 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was reduced to seven years by BCCI ombudsman D. K. Jain last year.

Jain had observed that the cricketer is well past his prime having already served six years.

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The BCCI banned Sreesanth in August 2013 along with his Rajasthan Royals teammates Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan. But on March 15 last year, the Supreme Court set aside the BCCI disciplinary committee’s order and asked the board to reconsider the quantum of punishment.

“I will never cheat cricket even when I am playing a friendly match...I don’t ball (bowl) easy ones or try to loose...so pls get that right with everyone...” Sreesanth posted recently.

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Sreesanth played 27 Tests and 53 One-Day Internationals for India, taking 87 and 75 wickets, respectively. He has also taken seven wickets in 10 Twenty20 Internationals.

The temperamental pacer was popular for his exuberant celebrations after taking wickets, but his life and career went downhill after the spot-fixing scandal.

However, he maintained his innocence throughout the controversy.