Cricket: Australian Cricketers’ Association’s plea for reduction in bans for Smith, Warner rejected

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David Warner

(Photo Courtesy: Daily Mail)

Cricket Australia (CA) are currently in no plans of reconsidering the ban imposed on Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft following the sandpaper scandal vs South Africa last March.

The Cape Town test match last March found the then Australian test captain Smith, vice captain Warner and test opener Bancroft guilty of tampering the state of the ball using a sandpaper. Following this shameful incident, then coach Darren Lehmann immediately quit his post.

Warner and Smith were given a year’s suspension while Bancroft nine months by CA. When the punishment was announced, the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) called it ‘harsh’ and asked the CA to reconsider the ban.

However, CA chairman David Peewar clearly stated that the board stood by it’s decision and also stated that the suspension was imposed after completing a process.

“Sanctions were carried out and imposed by the board after a very full and thoughtful process. So the sanctions stand,” said Peever. “As chairman of the board of CA, I accept responsibility for what happened in South Africa, but I’m also very confident that we’re positioned to move forward from here.”

“We’ve learned many lessons and of course there has been a lot going on since then. Both within the playing group and within the organisation itself to move things forward,” he added.

With the absence of Warner and Smith for the upcoming home series vs India, Australia must heavily rely on their pacers, if they are to regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

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