Sreesanth's life ban to stay as High Court upholds BCCI appeal

In an unforeseen move, the Kerala High Court has restored the life ban imposed on cricketer S Sreesanth by the BCCI in the wake of the IPL spot-fixing scandal in 2013. 

The HC division bench, comprising Chief Justice Navaniti Prasad Singh and Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan, gave the verdict on Tuesday on a petition filed by the BCCI against a single-judge bench's order, lifting the life ban imposed on the 34-year-old pacer. 

The verdict has come as a shocking blow to the former India international, who was preparing to make a comeback to professional cricket.

Also read: Sreesanth needs justice from BCCI, how long will he be no-balled?

The division bench said there was no violation of natural justice against the cricketer and quashed the single bench order in Sreesanth's favour. In its appeal, the BCCI had said the decision to ban the cricketer was taken based on the evidence against him. 

The single-judge bench had on August 7 lifted the life ban imposed on him by the BCCI. Justice A Muhamed Mustaque had also set aside all proceedings against Sreesanth initiated by the board. 

The court had earlier sought the BCCI's stand on the plea by the cricketer, challenging the ban following the spot-fixing scandal.