Fast bowler S Sreesanth succeeded in gaining the right to play the game again as BCCI ombudsman DK Jain reduced his life ban – imposed on the pacer for his alleged involvement in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal – to seven years’ suspension.

The BCCI had earlier banned Sreesanth, now 36, for life along with Rajasthan Royals teammates Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan in the aftermath of the IPL fixing scandal. But in March this year, the Supreme Court set BCCI’s order aside and asked it to reconsider its position.

In the latest order, Jain felt a seven-year suspension – six of which have already been served – would suffice, allowing the pacer to play from next year.

“For Mr Sreesanth, who is now in his late thirties, his prime years as a cricketer, particularly as a fast bowler may already be over,” Jain said in his order.

“I am of the view that banning Mr. Sreesanth from participating in any kind of commercial cricket or from associating with any activities of the BCCI or its affiliates, for a period of seven years with effect from 13.09.2013, i.e. the date from which, the period of ban imposed by the Disciplinary Committee had commenced, will meet the ends of justice,” Jain said in the order.

The BCCI had maintained that Sreesanth had been banned for life because he had “tried to influence” a match.

“The award of sentence, less than a life ban in a clear case of match fixing, can clearly impact public confidence in the game of cricket,” the BCCI was reported to have said, by ESPNcricinfo.