The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has taken stern action against former Indian pacer S Sreesanth, suspending him for a period of three years following his remarks made in connection with the controversy surrounding Sanju Samson’s omission from the Indian squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy. The suspension was officially announced after a special General Body meeting held by the KCA on April 30 in Kochi.
Sreesanth, who was part of India's victorious squads in both the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup, currently serves as a co-owner of Kollam Aeries, one of the franchise teams in the Kerala Cricket League. His recent statements during a Malayalam television panel discussion, where he vocally supported Sanju Samson and criticized the state cricket body, have landed him in trouble with the KCA.
According to the association, the issue is not about Sreesanth’s support for Sanju Samson, but rather the alleged defamatory and misleading statements made against the KCA. During the televised discussion, Sreesanth not only pledged support for Samson and other Kerala players but also leveled serious allegations against the functioning of the KCA, accusing the organization of partiality and mismanagement.
The KCA responded swiftly, issuing a show-cause notice to Sreesanth, along with notices to the Kollam Aeries franchise, Alappuzha Team Lead, and Alappuzha Ripples. However, while the franchises submitted what the KCA deemed satisfactory explanations, Sreesanth’s response did not meet the same standard. As a result, he was handed a three-year suspension from all KCA-related activities. The KCA further stated that the suspension aims to uphold the integrity and discipline of cricket administration in the state. The body also resolved to be more cautious in appointing individuals to team management roles within franchise teams going forward.
In an unexpected move, the KCA’s General Body meeting also passed a resolution to file a compensation claim against Sanju Samson’s father, Samson Vishwanath, and two others. The association alleges that these individuals made baseless allegations using Sanju Samson's name in public, further intensifying the controversy. The spark for the entire issue came after Sanju Samson was dropped from the Kerala squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, a decision that many believe hurt his chances of making it into India’s Champions Trophy squad. Critics and fans questioned the reasoning behind the omission, leading to increased scrutiny of the KCA’s selection process. Sreesanth’s televised comments were seen by many as a reflection of growing dissatisfaction among former players and insiders.
The KCA, however, maintains that the decision to drop Samson was taken purely on cricketing grounds, and they object strongly to what they call an orchestrated campaign of misinformation. “This is not about support; this is about responsibility and discipline,” the association said in an earlier press note. The fallout from the incident has created a rift within the Kerala cricket ecosystem, with passionate opinions on both sides. Sreesanth, once celebrated for his aggressive fast bowling and comeback stories, now finds himself in the midst of yet another controversial chapter in his cricketing career. Whether this suspension marks a temporary rift or leads to longer-lasting consequences for Kerala cricket remains to be seen. What is certain is that the controversy has once again brought the internal politics and tensions of state-level cricket bodies into the national spotlight.
