A prodigious talent who had arguably the best seam positions of the current times Shantkumaran Sreesanth has expressed his dream to play for India again. He was definitely one of the bright prospects for India until 2013 when he was arrested for his alleged involvement in match fixing during the 2013 IPL. He was handed a life ban by the BCCI but the fast bowler is still hopeful of making. To help his cause, the Kerala High Court has given a verdict in his favour and have asked the BCCI to lift the life ban imposed on him.
As per reports from Times of India, Sreesanth has vindicated his stand and is hopeful of staging a comeback to the national team. During his interview, he also revealed that his aim was to represent the nation in the 2019 ICC World Cup. Meanwhile, Sreesanth has always maintained since that fateful day that he is innocent and doesn’t have any connection with the spot fixing which shook the cricketing fraternity in 2013.
“Actually, today I’m feeling much better than how I felt when I got my maiden call-up to the Indian team. It is a new life for me. Even the biggest of criminals don’t go through what I or my family went through. A small incident was portrayed in the wrong way in front of the world. Maybe that’s how the world works, I don’t know. No complaints though. Even people who have been found guilty by courts (Mohammad Amir) have gone on to play global events like the World T20 and Champions Trophy because of the support from ICC and their association. I just hope that happens in my career too,” the fast bowler was quoted as saying by TOI.
He also thanked God for giving him another opportunity to work hard and stage a comeback into the national team.
“God has been extremely kind that I am getting another opportunity to work hard and get back into the Indian team. That will be my biggest challenge. The support from BCCI and KCA is very important. I am waiting for the green signal from the BCCI and KCA so that I can start practising again.”
He also revealed that he tried his hand at politics and films in the last four years only because cricket was taken away from him.
“Absolutely. I concentrated on politics and movies because cricket was taken away from me. But the world knows Sreesanth as a cricketer and I too like to be remembered as a cricketer who gave everything on the field. So for me, the focus is very much back to cricket from today,” Sreesanth said.
The fast bowler is already 34 and it won’t be an easy job for him to stage a comeback given the fact he hasn’t practised well over the past many years. He was up for the challenge and was hopeful of implementing his thoughts into actions.
“Why not? I know I have to start from scratch. I am only 34. The likes of Misbah (ul-Haq), Younis Khan, Sachin paaji played or are playing till when they are close to 40. They are the motivation for me. I want to make sure that I keep myself fit and start performing,” the Kerala lad added.
The current Indian team has a variety of fast bowlers and especially in limited overs cricket the unit is settled and always raring to go. There are 4 frontline pacers who are fighting for their spot each and every time which makes the job of Sreesanth that much tougher.
“It will always be harder. My dream is to play 2019 World Cup for India. But I know it is next to impossible and it would be a miracle if I play in that World Cup. But I have always believed that miracles can happen. There might be stiff competition for fast bowlers’ spot now. But there was competition even when I made my way into the Indian team. I have always felt that competition gets the best out of me. I just hope that I can do justice to my talent on my comeback. There was always a question of Sreesanth not being focused enough. All I can say is that I was always focused. I have learnt a lot from my past experience. I just pray and hope that I get an opportunity to show the world I am good enough and can clock 140kmph yet. It is a matter of me staying away from injury<” Sreesanth said.