Image: Sreesanth suspended for 3 years after falsely claiming Sanju Samson's Champions Trophy exclusion / © Republic World
When it comes to cricket controversies, few match the intensity of the recent clash between S Sreesanth and the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA). The former Indian pacer has been handed a three-year suspension by the KCA for making baseless allegations regarding Sanju Samson’s omission from India’s Champions Trophy 2025 squad. The decision was finalized during the association’s general body meeting in Ernakulam.
Sreesanth had claimed that Samson was unfairly dropped due to internal politics, even though Samson had already declared himself unavailable for the Vijay Hazare Trophy via email. KCA responded strongly, issuing show-cause notices to Sreesanth, his Kerala Premier League franchise Aries Kollam Sailors, and a few others.
While the franchisees provided satisfactory replies, the governing body found Sreesanth’s actions defamatory and suspended him. Furthermore, a legal notice was also sent to Samson’s father for allegedly endorsing the claims. The incident has created major ripples in Kerala cricket, highlighting the tension between former players and the state’s administration. While Samson remained silent on the issue, the episode reflects how off-field drama can influence the cricketing narrative as much as on-field performances.