Kochi: A day after being exonerated in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing case by a Delhi court, former India medium pacer Sreesanth took to nets training at the Edapally High School ground here.

All the 36 accused persons including Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila were on Saturday discharged in the IPL 6 spot-fixing case by Patiala House Court.

The BCCI though has decided to stick to its ban even after the verdict, but Sreesanth is eager to prove his fitness in order to make a comeback to competitive cricket.

As he reached the ground in the evening for practice, Sreesanth was given a rousing welcome by fans.

His mentor Shivakumar faced the first few balls in the nets at the Edappally High School ground, from where he started his cricketing career.

Sreesanth, 32, who is not allowed to play in the Kerala Cricket Association ground because of the ban, said he has a nostalgic feeling while playing at the school ground where he did a lot of practice in his younger days with his father Santhakumaran Nair and Shivakumar.

Sreesanth has also been cleared of charges linking him to Dawood Ibrahim. "If I had any link with him, I would not have been here. I would have been in Dubai or some other place. If I had known people like him, I would not have been a cricketer," said Sreesanth.

He said he was "relieved" and grateful to all, particularly people from his home state, who stood by him throughout his career and troubled times.

"The money I earned...it is hard earned. The question was about my personality and my commitment. I am happy now...I am discharged from all charges," he said.

Sreesanth said he was happy that he was able to recapture his life and career which were shattered because of the cases.

All the three accused cricketers had to spend time in jail during the course of investigation. Of the three, Sreesanth and Chavan are currently serving life bans imposed by the BCCI after the scandal shook the high-profile league, while Chandila's hearing is still on.

Meanwhile, Kerala Cricket Association on Sunday decided to write to the BCCI seeking lifting of the life ban imposed on Sreesanth.

KCA president T.C. Mathew, who is also a BCCI vice-president, will write to the Board.

"We will appeal to the BCCI to lift the ban. We will soon write to the BCCI as the court has discharged Sreesanth (in the IPL spot-fixing case)," KCA secretary T N Ananthanarayanan said.

Mathew, who is currently in Bangalore, said the KCA will wait for response from the BCCI after sending the letter requesting lifting of ban imposed on Sreesanth.

A delegation of KCA office-bearers may also meet the BCCI brass, KCA officials said.

Soon after the court verdict on Saturday, the BCCI said it would stick to its ban on the three cricketers -- Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan - for the time being.