In a major relief to cricketer S Sreesanth, the Kerala High Court on Monday lifted the life ban imposed on him by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in the wake of the 2013 IPl spot-fixing scandal. He was acquitted of the charges slapped on him by a court in 2015. The High Court also set aside all proceedings initiated by the BCCI against Sreesanth.
"I feel happy and proud. I thank God and all those who stood by me during the crisis. All I now I want is to return to cricket." said 34-year-old Sreesanth, who was present in the High Court in Kochi to hear the verdict. In a tweet, he said, "God is great."
The court had earlier sought the BCCI's stand on the petition filed by the cricketer challenging the life ban it had imposed on him following the spot-fixing scandal related to the sixth edition of the Indian Premier league of 2013. In his plea, Sreesanth had challenged the ban imposed on him by the board despite the fact that a court had pronounced him innocent.
In its counter-affidavit on the issue in the High Court, the board had claimed that the 2015 decision of the Patiala House court to acquit Sreesanth from the criminal charges had no impact on the decision of its internal disciplinary committee to ban him from playing in cricket tournaments organized by it and its affiliates.
In his plea, Sreesanth had complained that he was not able to play even in domestic cricket matches because of the BCCI's refusal to lift the ban. He also said that the basis for the BCCI committee's reports was the information provided by the Delhi Police which had been rejected by the Delhi court.
The Kerala High Court accepted Sreesanth's argument that the board's action amounted to denial of natural justice since he was acquitted in the case. The court also pointed out that the BCCI's decision banning him for life could not remain in force since the reason behind that had been nullified.
The BCCI had suspended Sreesanth following his arrest in May, 2013 and ordered an inquiry against him. The inquiry team had submitted its report the next month allegedly without hearing him. A Patiala House court had in July, 2015 let off all the accused — including Sreesanth and other cricketers Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila — in the IPl spot-fixing case.
"I am only 34 now. If God's blessings are with me I can play cricket for another six-seven years. I have to start playing in the State level and it is up to the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) to take a decision. I have to start from the scratch," he told newsmen.
"The BCCI should accept the court's decision and should not challenge it through appeal," BCCI vice-president and former KCA president TC Mathew told the media while KCA president B Vinod Kumar said Sreesanth had all the right to return to the State and national teams as the ban had been lifted.
Grateful to God: sreesanth
Cricketer S Sreesanth on Monday said he is "grateful to God" after the Kerala High Court lifted the life ban imposed on him by the BCCI in the wake of the 2013 IPl spot-fixing scandal.
Sreesanth said he has started preparations for playing the game and his aim was to find a place in the Kerala cricket team.
The Kerala Cricket Association said it would take a positive decision on Sreesanth's bid to play in state cricket tournaments.
In his order, Justice A Muhamed Mustaque also set aside all proceedings against Sreesanth initiated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
"It is to be noted that there are no incriminating evidence to pinpoint Sreesanth's involvement in sport fixing deal," the judge said.
All the 36 accused, including Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila were let off in the spot-fixing case by a Patiala House court in July 2015. The BCCI, however, had refused to alter its disciplinary decision even after the verdict.