The Board of Control for Cricket in India has decided to end Ankeet Chavan’s ban and has allowed the spinner to return to professional cricket.
In 2013, Chavan was arrested on charges of spot-fixing during the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) sixth edition. Ankeet Chavan was arrested by the Delhi police alongside Ajit Chandila and fast bowler Sreesanth. The trio were at that time playing for Rajasthan Royals.
In September 2013, Chavan and Sreesanth were banned from cricket for life by the BCCI’s disciplinary committee. However, in July 2015, the Delhi Court gave a clean chit and discharged him of all the charges in the IPL spot-fixing case.
Sreesanth was the only one to challenge his ban in Apex court. In 2019, the Supreme Court revoked the life ban slapped on Sreesanth, and asked the board to revisit the quantum of punishment. The board later allowed Sreesanth to play cricket from the 2020 season.
And now, a report in ANI has claimed that BCCI has lifted the ban on Ankeet Chavan as informed by the sources in Mumbai Cricket Association.
“Yes, the BCCI has ended Chavan’s ban and he will now be able to play professional cricket,” the source said.
Ankeet Chavan intends to write a letter to Mumbai Cricket Association seeking permission to allow him to resume local cricket.
“I want to play cricket again, I want to go back to the ground and start playing. I still feel I have it in me to make a comeback. Being a spinning all-rounder I have kept myself fit. It was a very, very tough time for me. It was the most difficult phase of my life. My home is near Shivaji Park and still I couldn’t play. Imagine a situation like this for a cricketer. I’m really eager and excited and looking forward to play again,” he told The Indian Express.