SC to pronounce its judgement on plea by Sreesanth

The Supreme Court is to pronounce its judgment on Friday on a petition filed by cricketer S Sreesanth against the life ban imposed by the BCCI on charges of spot-fixing during the 2013 IPL matches.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and K M Joseph had on February 28 reserved the judgement on his plea against the Kerala High Court's verdict that had reversed the decision of August 7, 2017 by a single judge bench which had lifted the life ban on the 35-year-old cricketer.

Representing Sreesanth, senior advocate Salman Khurshid contended when life ban on cricketer turned politician Mohammad Azharuddin, who was accused for his involvement in match fixing scandal of 2000, can be reversed then why can't his life ban not be set aside.

He also pleaded his international cricket career was virtually over but he should at least be allowed to play club cricket.

BCCI, for its part, contended it has adopted zero tolerance against corruption in the game and the life ban cannot be revoked.

As many as 36 accused in the spot-fixing case, including Sreesanth, were discharged by a Patiala House court here in July, 2015.

The Delhi Police had subsequently challenged the decision in the Delhi High Court.