Will take up Sreesanth issue: KCA president

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 3 (IANS) Newly appointed chairman of the National Cricket Academy T.C. Mathew, who is also the president of the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA), said that he will speak to all concerned on Kerala’s cricket hero S. Sreesanth being banned for life for spot-fixing.

“He has been banned by the BCCI after its independent disciplinary committee gave him a hearing. In the coming days I will speak to his lawyer and also with Sreesanth himself. We have already raised this issue with the BCCI and a court is also looking into the case,” said Mathew, responding to queries on why his state cricket association did not come to his help.

“Even though, he has been banned for life, we have told him that he can practise at the Kochi stadium which is owned by the Greater Cochin Development Authority and managed by the KCA. But he is yet to turn up for any practise session,” said Mathew.

The BCCI’s disciplinary committee last month, slapped a life ban on Sreesanth and his Rajasthan Royals team mate Ankeet Chavan for spot fixing in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Sreesanth, Chavan and Ajit Chandila were arrested by Delhi Police, May 16, after a mid-night rain from Mumbai for spot-fixing in IPL matches. All the three cricketers are currently out on bail.