No talk of any ban, Sreesanth says after meeting BCCI disciplinary committee

Former Test pacer S. Sreesanth said there was no talk of ban during his meeting with the Board of Control for Cricket in India's disciplinary committee in New Delhi on Friday. Sreesanth is among four accused of spot-fixing Indian Premier League 2013 matches and could even face a life ban.

The one-man BCCI panel had found four Rajasthan Royals players guilty of spot-fixing during this year's IPL. Probe panel chief Ravi Sawani found Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, Ankeet Chavan and Amit Singh guilty of spot-fixing. Sawani, who is also head of the BCCI's Anti-Corruption Unit, had recommended bans ranging from five years to life for the guilty players. But Sreesanth told reporters there was no talk of any ban. (Sreesanth fixed matches, Amit Singh the bad apple: Ravi Sawani's report)

"They were very co-operative and I gave them my side of the story. Lots has been said about me and I have not cheated the game. Hope BCCI gives me an opportunity to play again," Sreesanth said.

The BCCI disciplinary committee includes Board vice-presidents Niranjan Shah and Arun Jaitley. Since the disciplinary committee is a statutory body, it's decision on the players charged for match-fixing can be implemented straight away.

Sawani has been very scathing in his report. Sreesanth, Chavan and Chandila were arrested on May 16, along with 11 bookies, and were charged under the Indian Penal Code section 420 and 120B, which deal with fraud, cheating and criminal conspiracy.

The scandal led to an overhauling of the guidelines for players and owners in the IPL. The BCCI drew up an action plan called 'Operation Clean-up' which envisaged a series of measures to curb corruption in the IPL.