BCCI acting president CK Khanna has made it clear on Friday that fast bowler S Sreesanth cannot play for any other country as per ICC rules. Sreesanth has hinted that he may play for another country following the Kerala High Court order to uphold his life time ban earlier in the day.
"Any player banned by his parent body cannot play for any other country, ICC rules very clear," Khanna said. "Rules, regulations and the legal position is quite clear."
Sreesanth was banned for life following allegations of spot-fixing during an Indian Premier League match in 2013. A single bench of the court had on September 18th ordered BCCI to lift the ban, finding that it cannot agree to the cricket board's stand that Sreesanth's exoneration by a Delhi court in 2015 doesn't matter.
After considering an appeal filed by BCCI, a division bench of the high court on Tuesday set aside the single bench's verdict.
In an interview to Asianet News, Sreesanth has hinted that since BCCI has banned him from playing in India and it's a "private firm", he has the freedom to play cricket for any other country.
"BCCI has imposed the ban, not ICC. If not India, I can play for any other country, because am 34 now and I can only play for maximum six more years. As a person who loves cricket, I want to play cricket. And not only that, BCCI is a private firm; it is only us who say that this is the Indian team, but you know BCCI is a private body after all. So, if I play for any other country, it probably may be the same. Yes, representing Kerala in Ranji Trophy is different. I had hoped to win Ranji Trophy, Irani for Kerala, but the decision rests upon the BCCI," Sreesanth said in the interview on the sidelines of a public event in Dubai.
Following the verdict, Sreesanth took to Twitter expressing his displeasure terming it as the "worst decision ever". The 34-year-old questioned about the IPL franchisees Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals who were suspended for two years from the league after their owners were found guilty of corruption. Both the teams are set to return next year.
The pacer said he will continue fighting and questioned why he was being targeted despite the Lodha report submitting 13 names in a sealed envelope to the Supreme Court after its investigation related to the spot-fixing saga. "And what about the accused 13 names in Lodha report?? No one wants to know about it?i will keep fighting for my right. God is great," Sreesanth tweeted on Tuesday.
"Any player banned by his parent body cannot play for any other country, ICC rules very clear," Khanna said. "Rules, regulations and the legal position is quite clear."
Sreesanth was banned for life following allegations of spot-fixing during an Indian Premier League match in 2013. A single bench of the court had on September 18th ordered BCCI to lift the ban, finding that it cannot agree to the cricket board's stand that Sreesanth's exoneration by a Delhi court in 2015 doesn't matter.
After considering an appeal filed by BCCI, a division bench of the high court on Tuesday set aside the single bench's verdict.
In an interview to Asianet News, Sreesanth has hinted that since BCCI has banned him from playing in India and it's a "private firm", he has the freedom to play cricket for any other country.
"BCCI has imposed the ban, not ICC. If not India, I can play for any other country, because am 34 now and I can only play for maximum six more years. As a person who loves cricket, I want to play cricket. And not only that, BCCI is a private firm; it is only us who say that this is the Indian team, but you know BCCI is a private body after all. So, if I play for any other country, it probably may be the same. Yes, representing Kerala in Ranji Trophy is different. I had hoped to win Ranji Trophy, Irani for Kerala, but the decision rests upon the BCCI," Sreesanth said in the interview on the sidelines of a public event in Dubai.
Following the verdict, Sreesanth took to Twitter expressing his displeasure terming it as the "worst decision ever". The 34-year-old questioned about the IPL franchisees Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals who were suspended for two years from the league after their owners were found guilty of corruption. Both the teams are set to return next year.
The pacer said he will continue fighting and questioned why he was being targeted despite the Lodha report submitting 13 names in a sealed envelope to the Supreme Court after its investigation related to the spot-fixing saga. "And what about the accused 13 names in Lodha report?? No one wants to know about it?i will keep fighting for my right. God is great," Sreesanth tweeted on Tuesday.