Cleared by a Delhi court of charges pertaining to the IPl spot-fixing case, including the one linking him to Dawood Ibrahim, S Sreesanth on Sunday said if he had any connection with the country’s most wanted fugitive, he would not have been a cricketer. “If I had any link with him, I would not have been here. I would have been in Dubai or some other place. If I had known people like him, I would not have been a cricketer,” said Sreesanth, who was discharged in the sensational 2013 IPl-6 spot-fixing case by a Delhi court on Saturday.
The former India pacer was accorded an emotional welcome at the Kochi international airport on his arrival from Delhi this morning by his fans, friends and relatives.
Speaking on the occasion, the Kerala cricketer said he was grateful to all, particularly, Keralites who stood with him throughout his career and troubled times.
“The money I earned...It is hard earned. The question was about my personality and my commitment. I am happy now...I am discharged from all charges,” the cricketer said when asked about the trauma he underwent when charges were framed against him linking him with dons Dawood Ibrahim and Chhotta Shakeel.
The three cricketers including Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, banned for life from the sport by BCCI immediately after police action in the alleged scam two years ago.
Sreesanth HITS the NETS
A day after being exonerated in the 2013 IPl spot fixing-case by a Delhi court, former India medium-pacer S Sreesanth took to net training at the Edapally school ground.
The BCCI though refused to alter its disciplinary decision even after the verdict, but Sreesanth is eager to prove his fitness to the Indian board in order to make a comeback to competitive cricket. His mentor Shivakumar faced the first few balls in the nets from where he started his cricketing career.