A fan's view - Why Sreesanth absolutely, definitely, indubitably cannot be allowed back

At 32, the chances look bleak

'I will make sure I am fully fit and bowl those outswingers' – words uttered by Sreesanth after the Delhi court’s verdict.

For a man who brought disrepute to the game we love and an entire nation, as well as compromised the credibility of what many consider the premierT20 league in the world, that is awfully small thinking. My opinion on this matter counts for nothing, but as a fan I don’t think he could or should make a comeback to the Indian team. The BCCI agrees, as of this moment, he remains banned for life. He is lucky his record wasn’t expunged entirely.

Before anybody starts jumping up and down like Sreesanth during a particular vociferous appeal, it is worth noting that he was released due to lack of evidence. All that it means is that the police could not build a criminal case against him.

The BCCI’s verdict has not been affected by this; their findings that he was guilty of spot-fixing are as relevant and poignant as they were when they first arrived at this decision. Life bans are not handed out lightly. There is a great deal of contemplation before arriving at so harsh a punishment.

For all their faults, nobody can accuse the board for not caring about the cricketers of India. Siddharth Trivedi served a 1-year ban for failing to report an illegal approach by a bookmaker. He was subsequently reintegrated and rehabilitated after serving his time.

Pragyan Ojha had an illegal action; the BCCI worked with him to correct it and he is now playing for India A. The board has always advocated and protected player rights. For them to hand out a life ban; there could have been no question of Sreesanth's guilt. There may not be enough evidence that he broke the law of the land, but there was unequivocal evidence that he broke the laws and the codes that govern the very fabric of this great game.

He may not be a criminal. But he has let the game and the fans down.

For Sreesanth the citizen there is hope. For Sreesanth the cricketer there can be none.

I’m probably being too harsh and crossing the line a bit. However, Sreesanth picked up the line, ripped it to shreds, lit it on fire and then jumped on it. After he was done, the line looked more like a random collection of dots. And trial court decision notwithstanding, it does not take a genius to connect the dots.

Was he the fall guy? Never!

There is no smoke without fire. He wasn’t victimized. He wasn’t targeted. He was neither a nobody who could not defend himself, nor a high profile player who was picked as the fall guy because of his star power.

He wasn’t the knight in shining armour, he wasn’t the king. Cricket is that most sacred of activities; transcending everything else in life. When the world turns its back on you, you turn to Cricket. He compromised Cricket’s credibility. He let the fans down. That is both unthinkable and unforgivable.

He thought he could get away with what he did, but Cricket has chewed him up and spat him out for disgracing it. There can be no reintegration for him. Maybe forgiveness, even acceptance. But he cannot be allowed back in the national setup.

This isn’t someone who regretted his actions and decided to turn himself in. This isn’t someone who was sucked into the seedy world of fixing at a young, impressionable age. This is someone who has refused to admit his guilt. This is a fully fledged, well paid international cricketer, a 2 time World Cup winner who would have continued his sordid ways had he not been caught.

I’m sure he didn’t mean to bring the game into disrepute and sully its reputation; but only because he didn’t plan on getting caught.

For argument’s and fairness’ sake, let us for a moment consider that he is innocent. Let us ignore the overwhelming evidence and the fact that not one former cricketer has stood up and defended him. Let us ignore the fact that on his best day he was a prima donna who rubbed teammates and opposition players up the wrong way.

Can’t watch the sport with suspicion

Even if his only crime is being insufferable and akin to an annoying rash in the dressing room, he has already been convicted in the court of public opinion. If he were to return, we would question every no ball or wide he bowled and every boundary scored off of his bowling. That is no way to watch Cricket, no way to live.

Indian Cricket faces a credibility problem. 2 IPL teams have been suspended. Prominent board members have accusations of conflict of interest levied against them. Team owners have been banned by the highest court in the land. Bringing back Sreesanth in this atmosphere would be like pouring fuel on the fire. It is asking for trouble, trouble the Board and Indian Cricket cannot afford now.

Guilty by association, trimming diseased branches or making a sacrifice for the greater good; call it what you want but he cannot be allowed anywhere near the national setup. The entire cricketing world will be mocking us if we do so, just like how everyone’s going to mock Pakistan for playing Mohammad Amir in a few months time.

Even if he is innocent. It goes without saying, but that even is bigger than any of the no balls he bowled on purpose.

And for those who were wondering whether he can make a comeback to the national team, wake up and smell the coffee. I make this particular argument based purely on cricketing decisions. He last represented his country a full 2 years before he decided to sell his integrity. In that time, such luminaries as R Vinay Kumar and S Aravind were called up to the India squad. The selectors had decided that he wasn’t good enough long ago.

At the age of 32 and with 2 years out of the game, all that has changed is that he is now not only not good enough, but also not worthy enough.