Out on bail after 27 days in Tihar jail, tainted India pacer S Sreesanth today said that he would never want to “forget this episode” as it had taught me a lot of things.
“I don’t want to forget this (episode) but I think it taught me a lot of things,” the disgraced Kerala paceman, who was arrested by Delhi Police’s special cell on May 16, on charges of spot-fixing during IPL VI, said at his lawyer’s residence.
A visibly tired and emotionally exhausted Sreesanth maintained that he had always played the game in right spirit.
“All I can say is that I played the game in true spirit. I always gave my heart and soul for the game,” he said during the conference that turned chaotic.
The maverick paceman expressed his full faith in the judiciary and hopes to come out clean from the episode which rocked Indian cricket recently.
“All I say is that I totally believe in the judiciary and in the Indian justice system,” he said as one could see the dark circles around his eyes due to lack of sleep and the unkempt beard that he sported.
Asked what he will do if proven guilty, he replied: “I will surely abide by the law of the land.”
After being freed from prison, Sreesanth thanked all and sundry for their support during the tough phase of his life.
“I am very happy and relieved. God has been kind to me. I must thank God first for sure and then my fans, family, friends, lawyer and all well wishers who stood by me during this testing time,” he said.
Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan were released on bail this evening. However, their team-mate, Ajit Chandila has not applied for bail.
Sreesanth, Chavan and Chandila were arrested on May 16, along with eleven bookies, and were charged under the Indian Penal Code section 420 and 120B, which deal with fraud, cheating and criminal conspiracy.
BCCI’s ACSU chief Ravi Sawani, who is investigating the charges levelled against the three players, had submitted his report to the board yesterday and now the trio will be expected to depose before the commission.