Ban imposed on cricketer Sreesanth set aside by SC, BCCI asked to take fresh decision on punishment

The Supreme Court allowed cricketer S Sreesanth’s appeal partly and set aside the life ban imposed by the Board of Control of Cricket in India(BCCI) on him for indulging in spot-fixing during the 2013 Indian Premier League. The disciplinary committee of the BCCI was directed by the bench comprising Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice KM Joseph to decide on the quantum of punishment within three months. However, the decision of the disciplinary committee of the BCCI was upheld on proof of charges against the cricketer.

The principles of natural justice were not violated in the disciplinary proceedings held against him under the anti-corruption code of the BCCI, the court held.

His contention regarding participation of Srinivasan in the disciplinary committee was rejected by the bench.

Senior advocate Salman Khurshid, appearing for Sreesanth, told the bench, "In the context of facts and manner in which these things have happened, this court should consider that it (life ban on Sreesanth by BCCI) is unfair. He has suffered for the last five-six years. People want him to play cricket. He was extremely loyal to BCCI.”

"The team (Rajasthan Royals) and its owners were banned for two years only. It is completely unfair that this (life ban) has happened with him (Sreesanth)," Khurshid said.

About Sreesanth’s confession before the police regarding his involvement in the alleged crime, his lawyer said that the confession was due to continuous torture by the Delhi police Khurshid informed that as per Sreesanth, the police had threatened to implicate his family if he did not confess to the crime.

Khurshid referred to the recorded telephonic conversations and said that there was no evidence to substantiate the claim that Sreesanth had received money for conceding 14 runs in an over during the IPL match at Mohali.

No where in the world had a life ban been imposed on a cricketer like this, Khurshid said.