Mumbai left-arm spinner Ankit Chavan has been cleared by the BCCI to resume playing professional cricket after he received a revocation letter from the board confirming his ban - originally for life. For – was reduced to seven years.
In an email accessed by ESPNcricinfo, BCCI interim chief executive Hemang Amin confirmed that Chavan's ban had ended with effect on September 13, 2020, based on an order received last month. The BCCI Ombudsman said in an email, "With effect from September 13, 2013, you have been banned from life for 7 years. In view of the order dated May 3, 2021, the ban imposed on you expires on September 13, 2020."
While the in-principle ban expired in September 2020, unlike Sreesanth, whose order came last August for a reduction in a similar period, Chavan had to wait till May 3, 2021 to receive a copy of the order from the Lokpal. Had to do Chavan later requested the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to apply to the BCCI for a confirmation letter, required for his return to competitive cricket, which he received from Amin on June 15.
Soon after the development, Chavan told PTI on Tuesday, "By September 2020, the ban is completely over." "I'm ready to get on my way. I'm really looking forward to getting on the field as soon as possible.
"Unfortunately, due to the pandemic (Covid-19) and rain, the grounds will probably be closed, but I will be really looking forward to whatever opportunity I get back on the field."
In 2013, Chavan was handed a life ban for his alleged involvement in the 2013 IPL corruption scandal. Chavan was one of three Rajasthan Royals players, along with Sreesanth and Ajit Chandila, against whom the chargesheet was filed by the Delhi Police at the time.
Sreesanth received his order last year before his ban expired, allowing him to participate in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy earlier this year.
"I have received a letter from (a) Lokpal that my ban has been reduced to seven years," Chavan told PTI earlier this month. "The same that was given to Sreesanth, but his order came before the ban expired and after my ban expired. Since I did not receive that letter, I had to write to MCA requesting it to write to BCCI. That letter." "
The 35-year-old Chavan has played 18 first-class matches, 20 List A matches and 26 T20 matches. His last representative match was against Mumbai Indians in the 2013 IPL season.