More than two years after cricketer S Sreesanth and others were charged with spot-fixing, the test fast-bowler and the other two have been cleared by a New Delhi court. Indian prosecutors had filed charges of cheating and conspiracy against the players over their alleged links to an organised crime syndicate, in the 2013 Twenty20 series.
“The judge has passed the order and discharged all the players. There is no case against the players now,” a defence lawyer told reporters.
All the three players were arrested in May 2013 along with scores of bookies as part of a police investigation into the spot-fixing scandal that caused outrage among fans in the cricket-mad nation. The players were later granted bail due to lack of evidence.The Board of Control for Cricket in India, which had slapped life bans on Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan in September 2013, said its decisions would stand irrespective of the latest court order. “The decisions of the BCCI, based on its independent disciplinary action shall remain unaltered,” it said in a statement.
The 32 year old, who played 27 tests for India, was alleged to have been paid tens of thousands of dollars after agreeing to deliberately bowl badly in an IPL match. “It's a huge relief. I have nothing against anybody. God willing I will return to cricket,” Sreesanth said.
Following the exoneration of the player, the Kerala Cricket Association sent an e-mail to BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya and secretary Anurag Thakur requesting them to facilitate pace bowler Sreesanth's return to the cricket field. “There is a popular demand in Kerala that Sreesanth should be allowed to return to the cricket field. We cannot turn a blind eye towards that. So we have requested the BCCI to reconsider the ban imposed on Sreesanth. We are hoping for a positive reply from BCCI and we are willing to wait for their decision,” said KCA president TC Mathew.
Two days after he was acquitted of spot-fixing charges by the trial court, Sreesanth visited the KCA headquarters at the Jawaharlal Nehru International stadium here to explore possibilities of his return to full-fledged cricket. This was Sreesanth's first visit to the stadium in almost two years following the life ban slapped on him by the BCCI. Sreesanth was assured of all possible help by Mathew.
The Greater Cochin Development Authority, custodians of JNI stadium in Kochi, have said that the former India team player will be allowed to practice at the stadium if he wants.
