Flamboyant. Maverick. Abrasive. Attention-seeking. These are some of the expressions used to describe S Sreesanth during his seven-year international career, says an article in The Times Of India, adding that, but 'taint', the word that surfaced after he got implicated in the match-fixing scandal in IPL 6, is the one that is going to stick on him for life now.
“The pacer got away with many off and on-the-field antics as a player. But his alleged links with bookies that even saw him land in jail will take him away from the game that, as he always claimed, has been so close to his heart. The BCCI disciplinary committee on Friday evening called 'over' to the 30-year-old seamer's career, handing him a life ban after taking cognizance of its anti-corruption chief Ravi Sawani's report,” says the article.
“More than his natural outswing and perfect seam position, what made Sreesanth remain in the limelight was his theatrics on the field. His fiery spell (5/40) set up India's first victory on South African soil in Johannesburg in December 2006. But his wild jig after clobbering Andre Nel for a six garnered more attention. He was part of the Indian team that won the T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007. His antics against Michael Vaughan, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Symonds, to name a few, either cost him games or resulted in a hefty deduction in his match fees. Suspension and recurring injuries meant Sreesanth always remained in and out of the Indian team,” says the artcile.
Meanwhile the DNA reports that the life ban means the end of the road for Sreesanth who represented India in 27 Tests and 53 ODIs. The pacer, however, appeared relaxed as he came out of the hearing room. “Pray for me. I’m clean and I have never cheated cricket in my life,” was all he said before leaving the ITC Maurya Sheraton.
However, as the verdict was delivered, he tweeted… “Been tracking the news channels... Me getting a life ban??!! Very surprising”. However, he deleted that tweet after a few minutes.
The verdict on another of their colleagues, Ajit Chandila, will be announced later. Chandila was released from jail on September 9 and has yet to be questioned by Ravi Sawani, head of the BCCI’s anti-corruption unit. Sawani will soon summon Chandila to hear his side of the story.
Stating that he felt very sad on hearing the BCCI's decision announced on Friday, Sreesanth said, "The BCCI action is the biggest setback in my life and I am disappointed. I will try to overcome the crisis and make a strong comeback."
According to a report in Deccan Chronicle, Sreesanth said he did not know why he was being "framed" in this situation. "I can tell that I have not done anything wrong," Sreesanth told reporters here.
The fast bowler said he was at a loss to understand why the BCCI took such a decision on this issue. "The only consolation for me now is that I am at home, not in a jail," he said.
Sreesanth said he had been playing international cricket for the last nine years, but he never got any support from anyone. "I did not get any support these years. I expected to get support this time, which did not come," he said.