India's spot-fix accused hopeful of comeback

Indian Test bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth still hopes to represent his country again despite his arrest over a spot-fixing scandal, a report said on Wednesday.

Sreesanth and two of his Rajasthan Royals teammates were arrested last month over accusations they deliberately bowled badly during Indian Premier League matches in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars.

But Sreesanth, who was granted bail at a court appearance in New Delhi on Tuesday, is not only insisting that he is innocent but is vowing to regain his place in the national side.

“I have not been stopped from training so I want to ensure that I stay fit and give myself the best possible chance to represent the country again,” the Indian Express quoted Sreesanth as saying after he was bailed.

“I will start training from tomorrow itself after I get the blessings of my parents. I want to play in the 2015 World Cup. I really hope and pray that there are no more hindrances.”

Police said the three Rajasthan Royals players were acting under orders from international crime syndicates to give away a specific number of runs in certain overs during the Twenty20 tournament which wrapped up last month.

The players have all denied wrongdoing.

As well as their court case, the trio face possible disciplinary action from Indian cricket authorities who have commissioned a report on the allegations by its anti-corruption unit.

“If I can, one day I want to make a movie on what I went through over the past month,” said the 30-year-old Sreesanth, who only recently resumed playing after suffering injury problems.

“All I want to do is play cricket,” he said.

“I totally believe in India’s judicial system. I played the game with heart and soul.”

Sreesanth has represented India in 27 Tests, 53 one-dayers and 10 Twenty20 matches since making his international debut in 2005.

The allegations about spot-fixing have shaken Indian cricket to the core. N. Srinivasan, the president of the national board, stepped aside earlier this month while a probe is held into claims of illegal betting involving his son-in-law.

Indian law bans gambling on all sports except horse-racing.

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