If Nehra can make comeback to Team India, so can Sreesanth: BCCI vice-president

Kochi: Former India paceman S Sreesanth can still make a comeback to cricket, believes Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president TC Mathew.

Sreesanth was banned from playing cricket for life by the BCCI for his alleged involvement in the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) spot-fixing case.

Although he was exonerated by a Delhi court later on, the BCCI has still refused to lift the life-ban that was imposed upon him.

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However, Mathew believes that the 34-year-old can still go on to make a comeback for Team India.

“If Ashish Nehra can return to the national side at the age of 37, then Sreesanth too can make it,” Mathew was quoted as saying in Malayalam news channel Manorama. “The 33-year-old Sreesanth is still a terrific bowler and he is undergoing rigorous training.”

Sreesanth was one of the three cricketers (the other two being Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan), who were banned from cricket by the BCCI after police action was taken about the alleged spot-fixing.

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Former BCCI chief Anurag Thakur had refused to lift the ban on Sreesanth, despite the fact that the Kerala Cricket Association had pleaded the 33-year-old’s cause with the Indian cricket board after Sreesanth’s exoneration.

However, the push to lift Sreesanth’s ban is likely to gain more momentum, as Thakur has been removed from his position as the BCCI president. The former India paceman had reportedly received an offer to play in the Scottish Cricket League. However, Sreesanth needs a go-ahead from the BCCI, if he is to return to competitive cricket.