 "Sreesanth hits back after KCA sends show cause notice over his comments on Sanju Samson: 'We need players who dream..'")
Former India cricketer S Sreesanth has lashed out at the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) after the organisation issued a show cause notice against him for making what it termed “false and defamatory” statements on a television show. Sreesanth had publicly questioned KCA’s decision to exclude Sanju Samson from the domestic white-ball season for Kerala, which, according to reports, led to the wicket-keeper’s omission from India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad.
Media reports suggest that Samson was not included in the Indian squad for the Champions Trophy due to his absence from the Vijay Hazare tournament. The BCCI has made it mandatory for players to play in the domestic cricket to become eligible for selection in the national squad.
Sreesanth hits back at KCA
Despite the show cause notice, Sreesanth did not back down. In an interview with Kerala’s local media outlet _Onmanoram_a, he launched a scathing attack on KCA, questioning why the association continues to recruit players from outside Kerala to play for the state team. “They (KCA) take players from other states to play for us. For what? It’s disrespectful to our Malayali cricketers,” Sreesanth said.
He continued, “We have just one player at the international level, Sanju. Let’s all support him. The so-called KCA has not produced an international cricketer since Sanju. We have great players like Sachin, Nidheesh, Vishnu Vinod, and many others, but are they (KCA) pushing them to play at higher levels?”
What did the KCA say?
The KCA clarified that the notice was not issued because of Sreesanth’s support for Sanju Samson , but because of the nature of his comments, which the association deemed to be “false and defamatory.” KCA also stated that the remarks violated Sreesanth’s contractual obligations as the co-owner of the Kollam Sailors franchise in the Kerala Cricket League, which is run by the state board.
In response to Sreesanth’s remarks, KCA referenced his involvement in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal, suggesting that the association had consistently supported players, even in challenging circumstances. They recalled that during Sreesanth’s legal troubles, KCA officials had visited him while he was in jail, facing allegations in the infamous match-fixing case.
“When Sreesanth was in jail facing allegations in the infamous match-fixing scandal, KCA officials visited and supported him. Although the court quashed the criminal case, it is a fact that he has not been acquitted in the match-fixing case. In such a situation, there is no need for Sreesanth to take up the protection of other players,” the KCA said in its statement.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIn 2013, Sreesanth was arrested by Delhi Police for his alleged involvement in a spot-fixing case during the Indian Premier League. He was one of three Rajasthan Royals players banned from cricket for his role in the scandal. The Rajasthan Royals franchise also faced a two-year suspension from the IPL. Sreesanth’s lifetime ban from cricket was lifted by the Supreme Court in 2019 and he returned back to domestic cricket for a second stint with Kerala.
KCA went on to highlight that it was because of their protective stance that Sreesanth was given opportunities to play in domestic cricket again, including matches in the Ranji Trophy, after completing his ban. The association noted that no other cricket association had offered such a favorable approach to players involved in match-fixing.
“It was only because of KCA’s protective approach that Sreesanth was given opportunities in matches including the Ranji Trophy after completing his sentence. It is worth investigating whether other associations have taken such a favorable approach towards players involved in match-fixing,” KCA added.
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