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Former India seamer, S Sreesanth, has got a huge relief. In a significant ruling the Supreme Court has temporarily revoked the lifetime ban on playing the game.
The BCCI had banned the cricketer for his alleged involvement in the IPL spot-fixing scandal of 2013. Sreesanth had challenged the decision in the top court.
A bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan, asked the BCCI to decide afresh on the point of quantum of punishment given to Sreesanth. The SC in its order asked the BCCI to reconsider Sreesanth’s plea within three months.
The BCCI had told the Supreme Court that the life ban imposed for his alleged involvement in spot-fixing was fully sustainable in law.
“Life ban given to Mohammed Azharuddin (former India captain) was overturned. Pakistans Salim Malik got a life ban but it was overturned. Hansie Cronje was given life ban but he died in a plane crash when proceedings were not closed,” senior advocate Salman Khurshid, for Sreesanth, had told Bench of Justices Ashoka Bhushan and KM Joseph.
Khurshid argued that despite the ban and losing the best part of his career, Sreesanth has remained loyal to the BCCI and wants to “reconnect” with the Board.
“Yes, I have heard about the Supreme Court order. We will need to get the copy of the order. We will definitely take up the issue at the COA meeting,” COA chief Vinod Rai reportedly told news agency told PTI.
The bench made it clear that the 36-year-old Sreesanth must be heard by the committee on the quantum of the punishment.
