Kerala High Court lifts life ban on S Sreesanth

Photo: AFP New Delhi: In a big relief to India fast bowler S Sreesanth, the Kerala High Court lifted the life ban imposed on him by BCCI for his involvement in spot fixing in IPL 2013. 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). Sreesanth was slapped with a life ban after being involved in match fixing during IPL 2013. He was one of the three Rajasthan Royals cricketers along with Ajit Chandila and Ankit Chavan who were found guilty of the serious offence. Though Sreesanth was exempted from all the charges by a Delhi court but the then BCCI president Anurag Thakur refused to clear his stance on the tainted fast bowler. The BCCI had filed a counter-affidavit on the issue in the court in response to the plea by Sreesanth, who had challenged the life ban despite a court dropping all charges against the 34-year-old pacer. After the change in guard, BCCI vice-president TCB Mathews had stated earlier this year that a possibility of Sreesanth’s comeback to the national cannot be ruled out. However, BCCI had made it clear in April this year that Sreesanth won’t be allowed his way back to cricket even if court lifts his ban. Sreesanth last played a Test match for India way back in August 2011. The Kerala fast bowler was a member of India’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2007 and also 50-over World Cup team in 2011.