Kerala Cricket Association Suspends S Sreesanth for Three Years Over Controversial Remarks
In a shocking turn of events, the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has handed a three-year suspension to former India pacer S Sreesanth, citing his alleged false and derogatory statements against the organization. The remarks centered around the controversial omission of Kerala’s star batter Sanju Samson from the Indian squad for the Champions Trophy. This decision was finalized during a special General Body meeting held in Kochi on April 30, sending ripples through the cricketing fraternity.
Sreesanth, a two-time World Cup winner with India (2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup), currently co-owns Kollam Aeries in the Kerala Cricket League (KCL). The controversy erupted after he made contentious comments during a panel discussion on a popular Malayalam television channel. According to sources, Sreesanth accused the KCA of mismanagement and bias in selections, particularly regarding Samson’s exclusion, while allegedly promising to ‘protect’ Samson and other Kerala players.
Following the incident, the KCA issued show-cause notices to Sreesanth as well as to franchise teams Kollam Aeries, Alappuzha Team Lead, and Alappuzha Ripples for their potential involvement or negligence in the matter. However, the association later clarified in an official statement, ‘Since the franchise teams provided satisfactory responses to the notices, no further action will be taken against them. We do, however, advise greater caution in appointing members to team management roles to prevent such controversies in the future.’
The KCA emphasized that the suspension of Sreesanth was not due to his support for Sanju Samson but specifically for the misleading and defamatory remarks made against the association’s functioning and integrity. Adding fuel to the fire, the General Body also announced plans to file a compensation claim against Sanju Samson’s father, Samson Vishwanath, and two other individuals for allegedly making baseless accusations using Samson’s name, further escalating tensions.
The root of this controversy lies in Sanju Samson’s unexpected exclusion from the Kerala squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, a domestic 50-over tournament. Reports suggest that this snub significantly hampered Samson’s chances of securing a spot in India’s Champions Trophy team, despite his consistent performances in domestic and IPL circuits. Samson, the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter and captain of Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, has amassed over 4,000 runs in T20 cricket at a strike rate of nearly 138, making his omission a widely debated topic among fans and experts alike.
For Sreesanth, this suspension is another chapter in a career marked by highs and lows. Once celebrated as a fiery pacer who played a pivotal role in India’s triumphs, including taking the final wicket in the 2007 T20 World Cup final against Pakistan, his journey has been marred by controversies, including the infamous 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal. Though cleared of charges by the Supreme Court in 2019, his return to cricket has often been overshadowed by off-field issues. This latest ban raises questions about his involvement in Kerala cricket and whether he can stage yet another comeback.
As the cricketing community processes this development, the spotlight remains on the KCA’s handling of player selections and internal disputes. Will this suspension serve as a deterrent for outspoken cricketers, or will it ignite further debates on transparency in state associations? Only time will tell, but for now, Sreesanth’s voice in Kerala cricket has been silenced for the next three years.