S Sreesanth is no stranger to the spotlight—whether it’s for his fiery pace on the cricket field or his controversial off-field antics. The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) slapped a three-year suspension on Sreesanth, banning him from all cricketing activities under its purview. He made during a local TV debate criticizing the omission of Sanju Samson from the Indian squad for the Champions Trophy. His response to the KCA’s show-cause notice only added fuel to the fire.
The KCA’s Decision
The KCA’s general body convened on April 30 and unanimously voted for Sreesanth’s suspension. The association declared that his remarks were “derogatory” and that his reply to their notice showed a “defiant attitude.” Vinod Kumar, a senior KCA official, confirmed that Sreesanth essentially blamed the KCA for Sanju Samson’s non-selection—a claim the association deems both inaccurate and damaging.
Vinod said, “His reply was not satisfactory. He essentially blamed us for Sanju’s exclusion from the Indian squad. We’ve issued notices to a few others as well. In fact, there were also accusations against us regarding Karun Nair not playing for Kerala. But those claims were completely inaccurate – Karun has never represented Kerala at any level; he has always played for Karnataka, including in age-group cricket.”
Interestingly, Sreesanth wasn’t the only one pulled up. Samson’s father, Samson Viswanath, and a few others also received notices. While their responses didn’t please the KCA either, they weren’t as confrontational as Sreesanth’s.
The Television Remarks
In a televised debate, Sreesanth vocally supported Sanju Samson, questioning the decision to leave him out of the Champions Trophy squad. He hinted that the KCA may have played a role in this, directly or indirectly. The association was quick to send him a show-cause notice. According to them, the statements not only misrepresented facts but also undermined the body’s credibility.
Sreesanth’s Defense and Reaction
The KCA said Sreesanth’s reply wasn’t just unsatisfactory—it was borderline accusatory. Rather than clarifying or apologizing, he doubled down on his earlier remarks. His wife, Bhuvneshwari Kumari, claimed they hadn’t even received a formal notice. “We only heard of the suspension through the media,” she said, indicating that the fight might not be over yet.
Kumari added, “We don’t know yet on what grounds or reason the action is being taken. Sree was only backing a state cricketer with and under whom he had played. Once we see the notice, we will explore our options.”
Sreesanth’s Career and Past Controversies
A fiery talent from Kerala, Sreesanth once stood toe-to-toe with the world’s best. Known for his aggression and unfiltered passion, he brought flair to India’s pace attack. He represented India in 27 Tests, 53 ODIs, and 10 T20Is. He’s best remembered for being a part of India’s victorious squads in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup.
In 2013, his career took a nosedive after he was implicated in a spot-fixing scandal during the IPL. The BCCI banned him for life, but in 2019, the Supreme Court cleared him, paving the way for his return.
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