Sreesanth back in Kerela Ranji team ending 7 years ban
Correspondent
NEW DELHI, June 18 2020 (HS): The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has decided to include S Sreesanth, who has been under ban for seven years due to match-fixing, in their Ranji squad. The ban on Sreesanth will end in September.
Playing for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in May 2013, Sreesanth was accused of match-fixing with two of his teammates Ajit Chandila and Ankit Chavan an was arrested by Delhi Police. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) imposed a life ban on the three players, but Sreesanth approached the court and was acquitted of all charges in a special court in Delhi in 2015.
Subsequently, in 2018, the Kerala High Court also struck down the BCCI's decision to impose life ban on Sreesanth. But in 2019, the Supreme Court upheld his crime and asked the BCCI to reduce the quantum of his sentence. The BCCI later reduced his ban to seven years.
Sreesanth said, "I am really thankful to KCA for being given another chance. I will prove my fitness and storm in the game. Now it is time to silence all controversies."
KCA Secretary Seerith Nair said his return would be an asset to the state team.
Sreesanth has played 27 Tests, 53 One Day and 10 T20 matches for the Indian team, in which he has taken 87, 75 and 7 wickets respectively. He was also part of the 2007 and 2011 World Cup winning teams.