Sreesanth’s parents thank all

KOCHI: A neighbour boy, who occasionally plays gully cricket with banned India cricketer S. Sreesanth on a private road adjacent to the stadium, was still tapping the ball.

The villa where the cricketer lives with his parents Shantakumaran Nair and Savitri Devi was silent as mediapersons waited outside closed doors for the court verdict.

The family, so used to hailing and harrowing in equal measure,  had asked for privacy and agreed to talk if and when the judgment was pronounced in the Patiala court.

Eventually they emerged, teary-faced but smiling,  and Savitri Devi said: “We thank everyone who prayed for our son and believed in his innocence.” Sweets were distributed.

“For the last 26 months,  the way people saw us is beyond words,” she said. “He would practise on this road with our neighbour’s boy even though we live so close to the stadium and I know how much he suffered,” said Savitri Devi.

Shantakumaran Nair braved tears as he said their son would be back strong, but he refused comments on the alleged attempts to delay a judgment. “In 2013 he fought hard to be back in the IPL  after surgeries on both toes,” recollects Mr. Nair

“His doctors were surprised when he was playing again and we are sure he will be back to the game he loves   soon,” he said.

Savitri Devi said Sreesanth’s daughter is with them and he had asked them to send a picture of the baby, just hours before the verdict. Dipu Santh, elder brother of the cricketer, said he would  be back in Kochi on Sunday morning.