Sreesanth hopes to play domestic cricket again as ban nears end

New Delhi: Indian fast bowler S Sreesanth is hoping to play cricket again as his 7-year ban comes close to end.

ANI quoted him saying,” The official announcement will come in September, I am continuing with my training, Everyone is being supportive. I am just training and ready to go. It is very clear I will be in the squad. So I have to follow the rules and do the things accordingly.”

Manorama quoted that Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) president, Sajay K Varghese, said, “KCA is ready to welcome back Sreesanth. He will have to clear the fitness test to get into the camp. He’s an experienced bowler for sure.”

State team coach Tinu Yohannan said PTI that Sreesanth will be considered for this year’s Ranji Trophy.

“We are looking forward to having Sreesanth playing for Kerala again. Everyone in Kerala is also looking forward to that,” Yohannan said.

Yohannan said Sreesanth has enough time to work on his fitness. “His (Sreesanth”s) ban will be lifted in September. The good thing is that there is time for him to get ready.. He is working hard on his game and his fitness..,” the Kerala coach said. “Then we will have to assess his physical fitness and game skills. Sree (Sreesanth) is always in the scheme of things…,” he added.

The domestic season, expected to begin in August, could be rejigged in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yohannan also said as there was a lot of uncertainty about the game’s resumption, a training camp would have to wait. “As of now, there is a lot of uncertainty about when cricket will resume. So, planning for camp, practice, etc will have to wait,” he added. Yohannan also said Sreesanth is in touch with him constantly and has been working hard on his game.

“Sreesanth has been in constant touch with me. He has been working hard on his bowling and fitness. However, he has not played competitive cricket for some seven years now, we have to evaluate fitness and skills. “But we will be very happy to welcome him back into the Kerala side,” Yohannan, who played three Tests and an equal number of ODIs, said.

Sreesanth has played 27 Tests and 53 ODIs for India, taking 87 and 75 wickets respectively. He has also taken seven wickets in 10 T20 Internationals.

In 2013, The Indian fast bowler and his Rajasthan Royals teammates Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan were banned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for a lifetime for indulging in alleged sport fixing that ear.

The BCCI has reduced the ban to seven years in 2019, which is expected to end on September 13 this year.