KCA Bans Sreesanth for Three Years Over Remarks Linked to Sanju Samson Controversy

The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has handed former India fast bowler S. Sreesanth a three-year ban following his public remarks criticizing the association and defending Kerala cricketer Sanju Samson.

The decision was made during a special executive meeting held in Ernakulam on April 30. According to the KCA, the action was prompted by Sreesanth’s “false and offensive statements” that allegedly brought disrepute to the organization. The controversy erupted after Samson was excluded from India’s 2025 Champions Trophy squad — a decision that triggered an outpouring of criticism from supporters and some former players.

Sreesanth openly accused the KCA of mismanagement and expressed vocal support for Samson and other Kerala-based players, suggesting favoritism and internal politics were behind Samson’s omission. He also pledged to fight for the fair treatment of cricketers from the state.

In a further development, the KCA announced plans to pursue legal action against Sanju Samson’s father for making what it called “baseless allegations” against the association. Meanwhile, KCA sent show-cause notices to Sreesanth, two franchises, and a content creator over recent public statements and social media activity. The franchises, however, will not face further action after submitting what the KCA deemed satisfactory explanations.

Sanju Samson’s national selection hopes took a major hit earlier when he was excluded from Kerala’s Vijay Hazare Trophy squad, effectively closing the door on his Champions Trophy bid. The KCA maintained that the selection was purely merit-based, though the fallout has clearly created deep divides within Kerala cricket circles.

Sreesanth, who had returned to domestic cricket following a ban related to the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal, now faces another lengthy absence from any official cricketing activity under KCA’s jurisdiction. He has not yet issued a formal response to the ban.