The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has sent a show cause notice to S. Sreesanth. The development comes after the former Indian fast bowler criticised the board for their treatment of Sanju Samson. Sreesanth claimed that KCA wasn’t doing all for the state by not allowing Samson to make his case for the India cricket team’s ODI team.
“They (KCA) take players from other states to play for us. For what? Disrespectful to our Malayali cricketers. We have just one player at international level, Sanju. Let’s all support him,” Sreesanth had told Onmanorama.
The Sanju Samson vs. KCA case
Sreesanth’s comment came after an issue between the KCA and Samson, by which the wicketkeeper batter wasn’t selected for Kerala’s squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Given Samson wasn’t part of Team India’s ODI team, he needed to show the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) he could contend for a spot in the ICC Champions Trophy. But since he couldn’t play the List A tournament, BCCI didn’t name him and also launched a probe into why Samson wasn’t playing domestic cricket.
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KCA issues show cause notice to Sreesanth
Sreesanth’s comment hinted at wrongdoing on KCA’s part, and since he’s co-owner of the Kollam Sailors franchise in the Kerala Cricket League, he can’t contractually make such comments about the board. KCA brought up how they backed him when no one did due to his match-fixing past, and despite this, Sreesanth has made disparaging comments.
“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 a statement.
“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 favourable approach towards players involved in match-fixing,” the statement further read.
