It is the first time that Sree Santh, 37, is back in official cricket after serving a seven-year ban. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had banned him for life in August 2013 for his alleged involvement in the betting-spot-fixing scandal that rocked the 2013 edition of the Indian Premier League.

 

It remains to be seen if he will be chosen in the final team of 15 that will compete in the T20 tournament, to be played between January 10 and 31.

 

After Sree Santh moved a special court in Delhi in 2015, he was acquitted of all charges. In 2018, the Kerala High Court had struck down the life ban and also quashed all proceedings against him. However, a division bench of the Kerala High Court restored the ban.

 

Sreesanth then moved the Supreme Court against the division bench order. And in March last year, the apex court upheld his guilt but asked the BCCI to reduce his quantum of punishment. The BCCI then reduced his life ban to seven years which came to an end on September 12 this year.

 

Sree Santh has played 27 Tests, 53 ODIs and 10 T20Is in which he taken 87, 75 and 7 wickets respectively.