Shanthakumaran Sreesanth's plans to come back to competitive cricket was dashed on Tuesday as the Board of Control for Cricket in India denied the India fast bowler a NOC (No Objection Certificate) to play league cricket in Scotland.
Sreesanth had been trying to play league cricket in Scotland this year but the BCCI, which had imposed a life ban on him following his alleged involvement in the Indian Premier League spot-fixing scandal in 2013, has refused to give him the necessary permission.
According to an ESPNcricinfo report, a BCCI official confirmed that they had not obliged his request.
In May 2013, Sreesanth and two other Rajasthan Royals bowlers - Ankit Chavan and Ajit Chandila - were arrested for alleged involvement in spot-fixing. All three players were later banned for life by the BCCI.
In 2015, Sreesanth was cleared of spot-fixing charges by a Delhi trial court due to insufficient evidence under the MCOCA act, a special law passed by the Maharashtra state government to tackle organised crime syndicates and terrorism.