Sreesanth penalised for public criticism of Kerala Cricket Association in Sanju Samson row

S Sreesanth, Sanju Samson (Pic: AFP)

In a significant development, the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has imposed a three-year suspension on former India pacer Sreesanth, barring him from participating in any cricket-related activity under its jurisdiction.

The decision was made in response to what the association described as 'untrue and insulting statements' made by Sreesanth against the state cricket board, in connection with the controversy surrounding Sanju Samson's omission from the Champions Trophy squad.

The ruling was finalised during a special general body meeting of the KCA held in Ernakulam on Wednesday. The association also resolved to initiate legal proceedings against Samson's father, Samson Vishwanath, accusing him of levelling baseless allegations against the KCA.

Sreesanth, who is currently a co-owner of the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) franchise Kollam Aries, had openly criticised the KCA in a televised Malayalam panel discussion. He condemned the board for dropping Sanju Samson from Kerala's squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, a move widely speculated to have impacted Samson's selection prospects for the national team in the Champions Trophy 2025.

During the discussion, Sreesanth vocally supported Samson and other Kerala cricketers, pledging to protect their interests and calling out what he perceived as biased decisions by the state association. His remarks were not well-received by the KCA, which viewed them as damaging to its reputation and integrity.

Following his statements, show-cause notices were issued not only to Sreesanth but also to the Kollam Aries franchise, the Alleppey Team Lead content creator Sai Krishnan, and the Alleppey Ripples team. However, during the general body meeting, the KCA noted that the franchise teams had responded satisfactorily to the notices.

As a result, the association decided not to pursue further action against the teams. Nonetheless, a directive was issued urging franchises to exercise caution when selecting individuals for roles within team management going forward.

The suspension marks another contentious chapter in Sreesanth's tumultuous relationship with cricket authorities. Having previously faced a life ban from the BCCI (later overturned), this latest disciplinary action underscores the KCA's intent to protect its image amid escalating disputes within the Kerala cricketing fraternity.