ImageSource:GETTYIMAGESI’mcompletelyfreeofanycharges:Sreesanthafterspot-fixingbanends
IndiapacerSSreesanth’sbanforallegedspot-fixingcametoanendonSunday,concludingaseven-yearpunishmentthatwasoriginallymeanttobeforlifeandwasaggressivelycontestedbytheflamboyantbowler.
The37-year-oldhasalreadymadeitclearthatheintendstoresumeatleasthisdomesticcareerattheendofthebanandhishomestateKeralahaspromisedtoconsiderhimifhemanagestoprovehisfitness.
“I’mcompletelyfreeofanychargesndanythingndnowgonnarepresentthesportIlovethemost.willgivemyverybesttoeveryballIballeven(if)it’sjustpractice,”hetweetedonFriday,acoupleofdaysbeforetheendofhissuspension.
“Justhaveanother5to7yearsmaxtogiveitallI’vegotndIwillgivetheverybesttoanyteamIplay,”headded.
However,withtheIndiandomesticseasonpostponedatpresentduetotheCOVID-19pandemic,itremainstobeseenwhenexactlySreesanthisabletomakeacomebackifKeraladecidestogivehimachance.
TheIndiandomesticseasonstartsinAugustbutthepandemichaslefttheschedulingincompletedisarray.
“…theBCCIismakingalleffortstoensurethatdomesticcricketresumesasandwhentheconditionspermit,”BCCIPresidentSouravGangulywroteinarecentlettertopresidentsandsecretariesofitsaffiliatedmemberassociations.
Sreesanth’slifebanforallegedspot-fixinginthe2013editionoftheIPLwasreducedtosevenyearsbyBCCIOmbudsmanDKJainlastyear.
Jainhadobservedthatthecricketeriswellpasthisprimehavingalreadyservedsixyears.
TheBCCIbannedSreesanthinAugust2013alongwithhisRajasthanRoyalsteammatesAjitChandilaandAnkeetChavan.
ButonMarch15lastyear,theSupremeCourtsetasidetheBCCIdisciplinarycommittee’sorderandaskedtheBoardtoreconsiderthequantumofpunishment.
“Iwillneverevercheatcricketevenwheniamplayingafriendlymatch..Idon’tball(bowl)easyonesortrytoloose…soplsgetthatrightwitheveryone…”Sreesanthpostedrecently.
Sreesanthplayed27Testsand53ODIsforIndia,taking87and75wicketsrespectively.Hehasalsotakensevenwicketsin10T20Internationals.
Thetemperamentalpacerwasalsopopularforhisexuberantcelebrationsaftertakingwicketsbuthislifeandcareerwentdownhillafterthespot-fixingscandal.
However,hemaintainedhisinnocencethroughoutthedamagingcontroversy.
