Rahul Dravid Didn’t Support Me, MS Dhoni Didn’t Respond To My Messages: S Sreesanth
Nov 6, 2017 at 5:25 PM
Years after remaining in the wilderness and away from cricket field due to fixing charges, tainted fast-bowler S Sreesanth had revealed how he was not helped by his former teammates MS Dhoni and Rahul Dravid, who was also his coach at Rajasthan Royals when he reached out to the duo to seek help.
The 34-year old also insisted that some top cricketers were also involved in malpractices but refrained from revealing the names, saying that it would affect the game.
“I was sad that Rahul (Dravid) stood by Rajasthan Royals, and didn’t support me despite knowing me well. I messaged MS Dhoni, and sent him an emotional message. But he didn’t respond,” Sreesanth told Republic TV.
“Six or more of the top 10 Indian players were accused by the Delhi Police. If the other six names of the accused come out, it will really affect the game,” he added.
Sreesanth also reiterated that he would not hesitate in playing for any country.
“Let’s face it, this is not the national team. The BCCI is a private firm. If I’m given an opportunity and I’m allowed to play, then I would play for another country,” he said.
Sreesanth, along with Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila, was banned for life by BCCI’s disciplinary committee in 2013 on spot-fixing charges. However, in 2015, a Delhi trial Court cleared him of all the charges due to insufficient evidence under the MCOCA act, a special law passed by the Maharashtra state government to tackle organized crime syndicates and terrorism. But the BCCI did not respect the decision, stating that the decision to ban the players was independent to any criminal proceeding and was based on its independent disciplinary action.
The case took a strange turn this year when Justice A Muhamed Mustaque, in August, asked BCCI to quash the life ban since it had no incriminating evidence against the player. But the BCCI was still not ready to lift the ban and challenged the verdict, and as a result, a division bench of the Kerala High Court gave its decision in the board’s favor.
However, Sreesanth is also not ready to give up and is now looking to move the Supreme Court to ‘get his respect back.’
“That is the only option left with me, to approach the Supreme Court. At the end of the day, my life, except cricket is going really well. I will fight for my right. It is not just about playing for the country, but it is about getting the respect back,” Sreesanth had told PTI.
“That is why I have opened up and started to speak. It is just the beginning and there are more things to come,” he said.
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