Calcutta: An emotional Sreesanth could not hold back his tears after a Delhi court cleared him and two other cricketers of spot-fixing charges, on Saturday. Sreesanth, Mumbai left-arm spinner Ankeet Chavan and Rajasthan off-spinner Ajit Chandila were visibly relieved and said they wanted to resume their careers.
"I just couldn't control my tears, now I'm really happy," said Sreesanth, after hearing the court verdict. "I was just thinking when I took the World Cup catch (that clinched the 2007 World T20), I never thought, 'why me'?... But today honestly I thought, 'why me, for two years'. But maybe there is a reason. I just couldn't control my tears, now I'm really happy, I love this."
"No regrets, no complaints against anybody, God willing I will return to cricket. Hopefully, I can get permission from BCCI to use their facilities again and regain fitness," Sreesanth said.
With the absence of a specific criminal law to deal with spot-fixing in India, the cricketers were chargesheeted for offences under the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The court, however, said there was not enough evidence for charges to be framed under the MCOCA.
Sreesanth made it clear that he would be eager to get his career back on track and said he hoped he would be able to use the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) facilities again.
"I will try to start training properly as soon as possible. I wasn't allowed anything... Hopefully I can get permission from BCCI to use their facilities, so that I can get fit and come into the selection process."
While he did not want to divulge as to which cricketers had kept in touch with him, Sreesanth did say that Sachin Tendulkar following his twitter handle made him believe in his innocence.
"Sachin paaji still follows me on Twitter. Maybe it's a very small thing for him. But for me its huge. It made me feel proud. Also Viru bhai (Virender Sehwag) had kept in touch and always had encouraging words."
Sreesanth also spoke about his friend Jiju Janardhan, another accused in the case. "Everyone tainted him calling him a bookie. How many people know that Jiju was selected for MRF Pace Foundation?"
The BCCI, however, in a statement on Saturday, said that its decision (a life ban on Sreesanth and Chavan) remains unaltered.
"I became Sreesanth because of BCCI and I will not go against them. Obviously, I believe that they will see my truth. Right now, I just feel that I would be happy if I am allowed to play even a club match. I feel I can bowl those outswingers again," he said. Sreesanth said through his trying times, the cricket administration had been supportive. "BCCI - honestly, they have been very supportive, (Kerala Cricket Association president) TC Mathew Sir actually had said 'You finish this, and then we will take it over'."
Speaking to a news channel, Sreesanth said: "The worst thing to happen as a cricketer, living just behind international stadium (Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi), is not being allowed in there. Even an under-14 kid who respects you goes to the stadium, and I was not allowed. I went through a lot of things, but that's the past... I would love to go tomorrow and run there."
With the charges dropped, Sreesanth said: "I want to play cricket. I know I have been in the news for movies and all that, but everybody knows that I am a cricketer first.
"I was just waiting, I was just making sure I don't get bogged down in life, I just want to play cricket now."
He also added that he would soon bowl his trademark delivery. "I will make sure I am fully fit and bowl those outswingers. I am only 32 and have a lot of years left as a fast bowler," he added.
Thanking his family for the support they gave him, he added: "I would like to thank my lovely daughter, my wife and my parents."
"Thank God. Our prayers are answered. He (Almighty) is witness to everything. We thank all those who worked to prove his innocence," Sreesanth's father Santhakumaran Nair said, reacting to the court verdict discharging all the accused in IPL spot fixing case. "We thank all those who prayed for our son. We were all tensed after court reserved order on plea. We were all praying for him," his mother added.
KCA president TC Mathew, who is also a BCCI vice-president, said the state cricket body would do everything possible to ensure Sreesanth's re-entry into top-level cricket. He said he would seek all possible measures to revoke the ban imposed on Sreesanth by the BCCI.
Former India spinner Erapalli Prasanna said he was happy for the players. "I am actually very confused to be honest, though I am happy for the players," Prasanna said on the verdict.
Former captain Bishan Singh Bedi tweeted: "Some more court jesting fr BCCI... now how'd U term latest development? A goof up or a cockup?! Seems sum1 is running w/hare & hunting w/hound?!"
Ex-India wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani called it a huge lesson for the future generation of cricketers. "For the future and promising youngsters of tomorrow, this should be a huge lesson," Kirmani said.
Rajasthan Royals' former captain Rahul Dravid and player Harmeet Singh were named as prosecution witnesses in the case. Sreesanth, Chandila and Chavan were arrested on the basis of phone conversations and footage of IPL matches in which they were allegedly caught giving predetermined signals to bookies.
The three players of Rajasthan Royals, along with 11 bookies, were arrested from Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Delhi in May. Other accused were arrested from different parts of the country later.
