Former India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin has come out in support of tainted fast-bowler S Sreesanth, urging the World Cup-winning cricketer to remain patient and not to lose confidence.
“Sreesanth is one of the most talented Indian pace bowlers. The doors of the Indian team have not been shut on him. Sree should come clean and wait patiently. The key is not to lose confidence,” Azharuddin, who himself had come out clean after being charged of match-fixing, told a radio station in Dubai.
The 34-year old pace-bowler, along with Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila, was banned for life by BCCI’s disciplinary committee in 2013 on spot-fixing charges while playing for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League. 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 organised crime syndicates and terrorism.
However, the BCCI did not overturn their decision, stating that the decision to ban the players was independent of any criminal proceeding and was based on its independent disciplinary action.
Earlier this year in February, Sreesanth had filed a writ petition in the Kerala High Court challenging the life fan after the BCCI refused to issue a no-objection certificate for him to play league cricket in Scotland. In August, he was given a huge respite when Justice A Muhamed Mustaque asked BCCI to quash the life ban since it had no incriminating evidence against the player.
However, the BCCI once again challenged the decision, and as a result of a division bench of the Kerala High Court recently gave its verdict in the board’s favour, thus reimposing the life-ban on the bowler.
Sreesanth, meanwhile, is not ready to accept his fate and is all set to move the Supreme Court.
“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 recently told PTI.
Video of the day: