New Delhi: Kerala Cricket Association secretary T. C. Mathew on Sunday said that Indian pacer Sreesanth was indeed very close to Jiju Janardhanan, and called him the “satellite” of the tainted speedster.

“He (Jiju) is always around Sreesanth as a satellite. We used to see him around Sreesanth not only in Kerala but in abroad also. When Sreesanth moves in the city he is always seen in his car. May be we thought he is a close friend of Sreesanth,” Mathew told a news channel.

“Being a Malayali, he is eligible to play for Kerala. That’s why may be Sreesanth brought him here to help him make it to the Ranji squad,” he said. Jiju was among the 11 bookmakers arrested by the Delhi Police for alleged spot-fixing in IPL matches.