Life ban on Sreesanth 'fully sustainable in law': BCCI to SC

New Delhi, March 1: The Board of Control for Cricket in India told the Supreme Court on Thursday that the life ban imposed on former Indian cricketer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth for his alleged involvement in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal is 'fully sustainable in law' as he had 'tried to influence' a match.

Countering the arguments advanced by the counsel representing the BCCI, Sreesanth's lawyer told the bench of justices Ashok Bhushan and K M Joseph that no spot-fixing took place during the IPL match and allegations leveled against the cricketer were not substantiated by evidence.

Senior advocate Parag Tripathi, appearing for the BCCI, referred to the recorded telephonic conversations in the matter and told the court it was clear that money was demanded and was 'probably received' also.

"The decision of the disciplinary committee (imposing life ban on Sreesanth) is fully sustainable in law," Tripathi told the bench, adding that proceedings of the committee in the matter was 'on a thing which affects the game of cricket'.

He said there were allegations that Rs 10 lakh was paid to Sreesanth for conceding 14 runs in his second over in an Indian Premier League match between Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab at Mohali on May 2013.

"It is obvious that he (Sreesanth) was to concede 14 runs in his second over and he was to get Rs 10 lakh. It is clear that he tried to influence the match by agreeing to concede 14 runs in an over," he said.

During the hearing, the bench, which reserved its verdict on Sreesanth's plea, asked Tripathi, "What is the evidence that Rs 10 lakh was received by him before the match?".

Responding to the query, the senior lawyer referred to Sreesanth's answer given to a show-cause notice issued to him and said he did not give any specific answers on the Rs 10-lakh allegation.

"This still remains unanswered," he said.