With the seven-year ban imposed on him nearing its end in September, Kerala has decided to reinclude fast bowler Sreesanth in its Ranji Trophy squad for the next domestic season, subject to fitness.
Sreesanth had been arrested by the Delhi Police in 2013, along with two of his Rajasthan Royals teammates, Ajit Chandilia and Ankit Chavan, over charges of spot-fixing in that year's edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The BCCI imposed a life ban on the right-arm pacer.
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However, Sreesanth fought a long court battle over the same and was in 2015 acquitted of all charges by a special court in Delhi.
In 2018, the Kerala High Court had also revoked the BCCI's decision. Last year, even though the Supreme Court upheld his guilt, it asked the Indian cricket board to reduce his quantum of punishment. In response to which, the board reduced the life ban to seven years, which ends this September.
"I am really indebted to the KCA for giving me a chance. I will prove my fitness and storm back to the game. It is time for all controversies to take rest," Hindustan Times quoted Sreesanth as saying.
The KCA recently appointed former fast bowler Tinu Yohanan as the state team coach. KCA secretary Sreeith Nair said Sreesanth's comeback will help Kerala come back stronger after a poor Ranji season last year. The team got relegated to the Group C of the competition after finishing second-last in the combined Elite Group.
The 37-year-old Sreesanth has played 27 Tests, 53 ODIs and 10 T20Is for India. In first-class cricket, the speedster boasts of 211 wickets at 35.80 across 73 games.
While there is no certainty over when the next domestic season will begin at this stage due to COVID-19 pandemic, KCA has decided to name a list of probables in advance to ensure that the pre-season preparations go as per plan.
If he proves his fitness, Sreesanth could replace Sandeep Warrier in the first-choice Kerala playing XI. Warrier has shifted base to Tamil Nadu.
(Inputs from HT)
