S Sreesanth Moves Kerala High Court For NOC From BCCI To Play In Scotland

Frustrated with the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) reluctance to follow the court’s order and end the life-ban imposed on him, discarded fast-bowler S Sreesanth, on Friday ( August 18), moved the Kerala High Court seeking its direction to the BCCI to grant him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) which will allow him to play for Scottish club, Glenrothes Cricket Club.

According to media reports, the 34-year old had written a letter to the Scottish club on August 10, confirming that he had already contacted the BCCI for the issuing of the NOC with immediate effect. However, the right-arm pacer also made his apprehensions clear, stating his doubts over whether the board would issue the NOC on time for the tournament which will end on or before September 9.

“Without intervention of this court by issuing necessary clarification his petitioner reasonably apprehends that the BCCI may not issue such NOC,” Sreesanth wrote in his petition to the Kerala High Court.

Earlier this year too, Sreesanth had asked the BCCI to issue him an NOC to play for the same club but was denied. With NOC being mandatory to participate in the tournament, Eddie Gibbs, president of Glenrothes Cricket Club, had come out in support of Sreesanth at that time.

“He is genuinely innocent and this is a miscarriage of justice.The BCCI are the only ones who can make this all go away as there is no system for appeal or natural justice. But they refuse to talk to the player or his representatives,” he had told The Scottish Mail.

Sreesanth, who along with Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan was banned for life by the BCCI’s disciplinary committee in September 2013, was cleared of all charges by a Delhi trial court in 2015 due to insufficient evidence. However, the BCCI has not lifted its ban since their decision was independent to any criminal proceeding and was based on its independent disciplinary action.

Earlier this month, the Kerala High Court had lifted the life ban imposed on him by the BCCI but the cricket board is still not ready to end the ban and is all set to challenge the court’s verdict.