S Sreesanth gears up to challenge BCCI over the ban

Former Indian fast bowler S Sreesanth and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have been at loggerheads over the life ban imposed on him by the board. Earlier, the court revoked BCCI’s decision to impose a life ban on the speedster. The court stated that its complete injustice towards Sreesanth as he is already acquitted in the case and all the criminal charges have been dropped against him. In reply, the BCCI announced that they would challenge the Kerala High Court verdict on lifting the ban.

The whole saga started in May 2013, when Delhi police had arrested Sreesanth and two of his Rajasthan Royals teammates, Ajit Chandilia and Ankit Chavan, on charges of spot-fixing in the Indian Premier League. As a result of the arrest, the board banned all the three cricketers. However, in 2016 the Delhi court hearing the case had acquitted Sreesanth in the case, but the BCCI refused to budge from its initial stand.

Reveal the facts in public

Sreesanth looks all set to challenge the board over the ban and wants the BCCI to reveal all the evidence they have against him in public. “They said I had to serve my time and I did. Not once have they provided me with the facts of the case. If they feel like I am involved, I insist that they make it public. They have never proved that I was involved in spot-fixing in any way. Even criminals serving a life-ban get early bails, and those are cases that involve far greater crimes,” said Sreesanth in a conversation with Wisden India.

“I do not want to be remembered as someone who was good once and then got involved in fixing and never woke up from it. I cannot be made the poster child for match-fixing when I haven’t fixed a single game in my life. I do not want my children to remember me as some criminal. They know the truth but if the world paints a picture long enough, kids will believe it or at least question it at some point. At least for their sake, I hope I can return to playing cricket,” said Sreesanth, who was part of the Men in Blue in their winning campaign in the World T20 2007 and World Cup 2011.

Just want to play

He is ready to put everything that has happened behind him and get back on the field and play the game. “I am willing to put everything behind and just focus on my cricket. I just wish to follow my dreams and make my family proud. I do not want to keep reliving this. I need to make new memories and this will help me do that. I have seen too much in my life. I just want to be happy. Is that too much to ask?” he concluded.