Mumbai, Feb 15 (Deccan Chronicle) : Tainted India pacer S Sreesanth is all set to return to cricket. The Kerala cricketer will represent Ernakulam Cricket Club in a first division two-day game starting on February 19. In the process, Sreesanth will also defy the life ban imposed on him by BCCI.

Earlier, the cricket board had refused to issue a No Objection Certificate that would allow Sreesanth to play club cricket in Scotland. The pace bowler has attacked BCCI for its handling of the matter.

“When there is no official letter stating my life ban then why will the umpires stop me from playing? There have been no emails, courier or anything which states that I am banned from playing cricket,” Sreesanth was quoted by Hindustan Times.

“All that I have received is a suspension letter when I was in Tihar jail. A suspension letter is valid only for 90 days. The BCCI has announced about my life ban only in the media. There is no official correspondence till date. I was stupid to have not played cricket for this long.”

“The way I have been ill-treated is probably even worse than a terrorist. Those who have been found guilty of corrupt practices have been encouraged to play again by the ICC. Whereas I am not even found guilty but I still have to go through this hell. I want my respect back which I earned through cricket,” said Sreesanth.

A life ban was imposed on the pacer by BCCI after he was charged for spot-fixing during the IPL 6 in 2013.

In 2015, a trial court in Delhi dropped all charges on him, but the cricket board refused to lift the life ban.