S Sreesanth. Image credit: InsideSports
S Sreesanth. Image credit: InsideSports

S Sreesanth (37) has been included in the Kerala Ranji team after serving a 7-year-ban by the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA).

His ban period ends in September later this year.

The inclusion of the 37-year-old speedster though will depend on his fitness.

Sreesanth, along with two Rajasthan Royals players,  was arrested by the Delhi Police in May 2013 on charges of spot-fixing.

A life ban was imposed on him by the Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI), however, he acquitted by a special court in Delhi in 2015 after a long battle.

The Kerala High Court in 2018 revoked the BCCI decision to impose a life ban on him.

His guilt, however, was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2019 but asked the BCCI to reduce his quantum of punishment.

The BCCI later reduced his life ban to seven years, which ends in September 2020.

Thanking the KCA for the selection, Sreesanth said, “I am really indebted to the KCA for giving me a chance.”

I will prove my fitness and storm back to the game. It is time for all controversies to take rest,” he added.

Playing for India the speedster took 87 wickets in 27 tests and 75 wickets in one-day internationals.

He was also a member of the World Cup cricket winning team in 2011.