Virender Sehwag has a piece of advice for Sreesanth, takes a dig at PCB

Former India opener Virender Sehwag has opened up on S Sreesanth’s chances of making a comeback to the Indian team. Earlier this week, the BCCI cut short the ban imposed on S Sreesanth for the IPL spot-fixing scandal in 2013. BCCI ombudsman Justice (retd) DK Jain reduced his ban to seven years and thus the sanction period would end on September 13, 2020.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court of India ‘set aside’ the BCCI ban – originally for life. The court had also asked the board to “reconsider” and “revisit” the length of any fresh ban, preferably within three months.

The former India pacer was found guilty of breaching the code of conduct for his alleged role in the IPL corruption and spot-fixing scandal in 2013. Two other Rajasthan Royals cricketers were also found guilty of the same. The BCCI had banned him for life after his arrest by Delhi Police for alleged promises made to bookmakers during the 2013 IPL.

With the ban all set to come to an end next year, S Sreesanth has already said he wants to play for India again. The World Cup-winning star also said that he aims to take 100 wickets in Tests. Well, his former teammate Sehwag has now advised the bowler to play domestic cricket in order to realize his dream of playing international cricket again.

“He has to play domestic cricket first,” Virender Sehwag said at an event in New Delhi. In 2016, Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir had made a comeback to international cricket immediately after his ban was lifted. When asked about that, Sehwag hilariously said, “Pakistan me kuch bhi hota hai.”

Taking inspiration from Leander Paes and Ashish Nehra

Age is definitely not on S Sreesanth’s side. He will be 37 when the ban ends next year. However, Sreesanth is determined to play again and is taking inspiration from tennis star Leander Paes and former teammate Ashish Nehra.

“I am a huge fan of Leander Paes to start with. For his age and fitness, he is showing the way (even) right now. So I should not give up. Even at 38, Ashish Nehra played the World T20 [2016]. I am only 36. So I still have another year to make the comeback. I don’t think age is a factor,” Sreesanth told ESPN Cricinfo.

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