S Sreesanth Set To Return To Professional Cricket After 7 Years

Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, commonly known as S Sreesanth, is set to make his comeback into professional T20 cricket after 7 long years. Sreesanth was banned in 2013 by BCCI after he was arrested on the charges of match-fixing during the IPL.

Sreesanth, along with his Rajasthan Royals’ teammates, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan were served with life bans from the BCCI. However, after getting a clean chit from the court last year, Sreesanth’s life ban was reversed to 7 years which has ended.

In September, earlier this year, the 37-year-old has become eligible to play for the state and the country again. The pacer played his last competitive game against Kings XI Punjab in the IPL 2013.

I have waited for seven long years: S Sreesanth

There is elation amongst Sreesanth’s fans who have been eagerly waiting for his return to cricket. Sreesanth himself expressed his happiness by first thanking the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) and the selectors for providing him with an opportunity to participate in the President’s Cup.

He also thanked the BCCI. The pacer said that he has been training hard and preparing for the tournament and looking forward to it.

Speaking to ANI, Sreesanth said, “Thanks to the Kerala Cricket Association. I am really grateful to the selectors as well for giving me the opportunity. It is a great initiative taken by the association. Thanks to the BCCI as well, it has been seven long years. I have been training really hard. I am looking forward to the tournament, it is going to be an amazing President’s Cup.”

Sreesanth assures that he will give his best and has been waiting to get back on the field for 7 long years. The right-arm seamer believes that he is even fitter than he was in the 2011 World Cup. Sreesanth won the World Cup under MS Dhoni and played in the final as well.

“I will keep giving my best because it is something that I have waited for seven long years… I am very confident, I think I am fitter than I was in 2011 when I played the World Cup,” he added.

A total of 33 matches will be played between 5 teams in an 18-day competition and all the matches will be played with the white ball, coloured clothing, and played as per BCCI playing conditions.

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