Thiruvananthapuram: If rudeness on the field earned Shanthakumaran Sreesanth a final warning from the BCCI, absenteeism from Kerala's Ranji camp almost saw him being sacked as skipper. Though the team manager and selectors clamoured for the head of their captain, the Kerala Cricket Association on Sunday decided to give the fast bowler yet another chance.

"Because we want a good start against Andhra, we are allowing him (Sreesanth) to continue (as skipper)," KCA secretary TC Mathew said in Thiruvananthapuram. He said the association has decided to warn the cricketer. The duties of a captain were much more than that of a player, he added.

"Enough is enough. The selectors and I sat down and discussed the issue. We are giving him one final chance. If he breeches our trust again then he will be removed as skipper," Mathew told DNA.

Sreesanth, chosen to lead the Ranji team, was missing in action till Sunday. Though the camp started in Thalasseri on October 12, he sought leave till October 19 to go on a pilgrimage to Sabarimala. His mother first called up KCA officials on October 15 to inform them that he wanted to go to Sabarimala for a pilgrimage. Then Sreesanth called on October 16 to inform officials that he wouldn't be available till October 22.

He then wanted to stay away till October 27 to attend the wedding of chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth's son in Chennai and also a Kings XI Punjab camp in New Delhi.

The KCA rejected the request and told the speedster to report for training at the earliest. When he still failed to show up, the miffed selectors wanted to replace him with vice-captain Rohan Prem.

Sreesanth, who rushed to Thalasseri on Sunday, said some people were trying to malign him. "I had told the people concerned before staying away. I do get enough support from KCA. But somebody outside (the body) is against me. All I want to say is that I don't want to get into any controversy," he said.

The BCCI had given Sreesanth a final warning after he was fined 60 per cent of his match fee for using offensive language against Mumbai's Dhawal Kulkarni during Irani Trophy. The BCCI, in a letter to KCA, had warned that Sreesanth would be suspended from domestic cricket matches if he violates the BCCI code of conduct again.

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