Why didn’t you inform BCCI about spot-fixing approach, Supreme Court asks Sreesanth

Former cricketer S Sreesanth has moved to the Supreme Court to prove that he is innocent in the spot-fixing case which saw him getting banned from the game almost six years ago. The apex court asked the Committee of Administrators (CoA) to respond to the additional documents submitted by Sreesanth to support his innocence.

On Wednesday, it also asked the former Kerala cricketer why he did not bring to the notice of the BCCI that he was approached for alleged spot-fixing during a match in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2013. The Supreme Court also observed that the conduct of Sreesanth, who is just days away from turning 36, in the entire case was “not good”, Manorama Online cited reports as saying.

Sreesanth, who was a member of two world title-winning Indian squads in 2007 and 2011, was discharged by a trial court four years ago in a criminal court related to alleged spot-fixing. He told a bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and KM Joseph that the life ban which was imposed on him by the BCCI was harsh and there was no evidence to back the claim that he indulged in any illegal activity.

Sreesanth has challenged in the Supreme Court the decision of a division bench of Kerala High Court that restored the ban which was imposed on him by the board.

No evidence to establish spot-fixing, says Sreesanth’s counsel

Senior advocate Salman Khurshid, who is fighting the case for Sreesanth, said there was no evidence that established spot-fixing during the IPL match in which the former bowler played in 2013 (he played for Rajasthan Royals) and that he did not get any payment. “Why didn’t you (Sreesanth) bring it immediately to the notice of the board (BCCI)?” the bench asked Khurshid after he referred to conversations between alleged bookies over the telephone, said reports.

Khurshid defended his client saying he had failed to inform the board about the approach for spot-fixing but even if he did not do it, he could not be banned for more than five years.

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