After seven years of wait, trials, interviews and debates, Indian pacer S Sreesanth is once again free to play cricket as the ban imposed on him by BCCI came to an end on Sunday.

Sreesanth was banned for alleged spot-fixing in the 2013 edition of the IPL, which was reduced to seven years by BCCI Ombudsman DK Jain last year. 

On Friday, days before the end of his suspension, the tainted pacer tweeted, “I’m completely free of any charges nd anything nd now gonna represent the sport I love the most.will give my very best to every ball I ball even (if) it’s just practice.”

“Just have another 5 to 7 years max to give it all I’ve got nd I will give the very best to any team I play,” he added.

It is no surprise that the 37-year-old has already made it clear that he intends to resume at least his domestic career at the end of the ban and his home state Kerala has promised to consider him if he manages to prove his fitness.

However, with the Indian domestic season, scheduled to start in August, halted under the present COVID-19 situation, it remains to be seen when exactly Sreesanth is able to make a comeback if Kerala does decide to give him a chance.

“…the BCCI is making all efforts to ensure that domestic cricket resumes as and when the conditions permit,” BCCI President Sourav Ganguly wrote in a recent letter to presidents and secretaries of its affiliated member associations.

In August 2013, the BCCI banned Sreesanth along with his Rajasthan Royals teammates Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan.

But on March 15 last year, the Supreme Court set aside the BCCI disciplinary committee’s order and asked the Board to reconsider the quantum of punishment.

“I will never ever cheat cricket even when iam playing a friendly match..I don’t ball (bowl) easy ones or try to loose…so pls get that right with everyone…” Sreesanth posted recently.

The Indian speedster played 27 Tests and 53 ODIs for the country, scalping 87 and 75 wickets, respectively. Sreesanth also took seven wickets in 10 T20 Internationals.

The temperamental pacer was also popular for his exuberant celebrations after taking wickets but his life and career went downhill after the spot-fixing scandal.

However, he maintained his innocence throughout the damaging controversy and vehemently contested the charges.