KCA Takes A Dig At S Sreesanth For This Reason Over Sanju Samson’s Exclusion
Published - 08 Feb 2025, 02:12 PM | Updated - 08 Feb 2025, 02:14 PM
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The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has issued a show cause notice to the former Indian pacer, S Sreesanth, for making ‘false and defamatory’ statements against their side in a reality show. The pacer questioned the KCA for their decision to overlook Sanju Samson for the domestic white-ball season.
The India wicket-keeper batter didn’t find a place in India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad. That happened after he missed the recent Vijay Hazare Tournament (VHT) 2024-25.
KCA sends show cause notice to Sreesanth
The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) reckoned that the show cause notice wasn’t for Sreesanth showing support to Samson but for ‘making false and defamatory statements. The association has highlighted that it had been a violation of his contractual terms as the co-owner of the Kollam Sailors franchise in the Kerala Cricket League.
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In response to the pacer’s comments, the association brought up the infamous spot-fixing case against the pacer to say that they had always supported players, even if they were in jail, which was a clear dig at the former T20 World Cup winner.
“When Sreesanth was in jail facing allegations in the infamous match-fixing scandal, KCA officials visited and supported him. Although the court quashed the criminal case, it is a fact that he has not been acquitted in the match-fixing case. In such a situation, there is no need for Sreesanth to take up the protection of other players.” The statement addresses.
S Sreesanth’s match-fixing scandal during IPL 2013
In 2013, the Delhi police had arrested Sreesanth on charges of spot-fixing. He was one of the three banned Rajasthan Royals players from the game after his involvement in the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) spot-fixing scandal.
In July 2015, the Patiala House court dropped all the charges against the pacer, Chandila, and Chavan in the spot-fixing case, saying that there had been no prima facie case under MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act) to be made out against them. Then, in March 2019, the Supreme Court lifted the lifetime ban on him.
“It was only because of KCA’s protective approach that Sreesanth was given opportunities in matches, including the Ranji Trophy after completing his sentence. It is worth investigating whether other associations have taken such a favorable approach towards players involved in match-fixing.” It further quoted.
S Sreesanth questions KCA for overlooking Malayalis
The 42-year-old has picked up 87 wickets in 27 Tests at an average of 37.59 and a strike rate of 62.2 with the help of four four-wicket hauls and three five-wicket hauls at the best bowling figure of 5/40 in an inning. In 52 ODIs, the right-arm pacer has grabbed 75 scalps at an average of 33.44 and a strike rate of 33.
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Sreesanth also asked which international player the Kerala association managed to produce after Samson. He didn’t back down after the show cause notice, instead lambasting Kerala in an interview with the media outlet Onmanorama when he questioned the reason of the association overlooking Malayalis and getting players after the other associations.
“They take players from other states to play for us. For what? Disrespectful to our Malayali cricketers. We have just one player at the international level, Sanju. Let’s all support him.” Sreesanth expressed.
“The so-called KCA has not produced an international cricketer since Sanju. We have great players like Sachin, Nidheesh, Vishnu Vinod, and many others, but are they (KCA) pushing them to play at higher?” He concluded.
