BCCI gives major blow to Steve Smith, David Warner; suspends duo from playing IPL over ball-tampering row
New Delhi, March 29: After Australian players including Steve Smith and David Warner were suspended from the International cricket for one year over the ball-tampering row, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday giving a further blow to duo blocked them from participating in India Premier League.
Notably, BCCI confirmed that Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft will not be allowed to participate in this year’s Indian Premier League as a result of their part in the ball-tampering scandal currently engulfing Australian cricket.
The BCCI in a statement said, “The Committee of Administrators (CoA) took cognizance of the developments in the ball tampering incident involving Cricket Australia contracted cricketers including Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.”
“The CoA, in consultation with BCCI Acting President CK Khanna, IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla and BCCI Acting Secretary Amitabh Choudhary, has decided to ban Smith and Warner with immediate effect from participation in IPL 2018,” the statement added.
The statement further said, "The BCCI hopes that the cricketers participating in the IPL hold the highest regard for the Spirit of Cricket and Code of Conduct for Players and Match Officials. The concerned IPL franchises will be allowed replacement players."
Their respective teams, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad, had previously confirmed that the two had relinquished their captaincy roles. Both will come as a big loss to the two franchises. Warner, in particular, has been one of the standout batsmen across the past few seasons of the IPL, having averaged 52.63 at a strike-rate of 147.71 since he joined Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2014. He led them to the 2016 title.
Steve Smith has been marginally less successful, although he has averaged 41.22 since the start of 2016 at a strike-rate of 131.79, a period in which he notched his only T20 hundred to date. However, their replacements are yet to be confirmed. The IPL begins on 7 April.
BACKGROUND:
On March 24, Australian player Cameron Bancroft and skipper Steve Smith admitted tampering of a ball during the third day of the third Test against South Africa. Steve Smith said, "We made a poor choice. We deeply regret our actions. Coaches weren't involved. It was purely the players in the leadership group.” "I can promise you it won't happen again. It's the first time this has happened,” he added.
During the play a ball was thrown to Cameron Bancroft, television footage showed Bancroft take an object out of his pocket before rubbing the ball, then putting something back in his pocket. After footage of the incident was broadcast, a message appeared to be sent out to him on the field. He put the tape down the front of his trousers before being spoken to by on-field umpires Nigel Llong and Richard Illingworth.
However, at that time he turned out his pockets, revealing only a black cloth. The field umpires did not change the ball. Later, Steve Smith stepped down from his position of the captain of the Rajasthan Royals team. David warner also stepped down from his position of the captain of the Sunrisers Hyderabad.