Australian Association asks board to reduce Smith, Warner and Bancroft’s suspension periods; indirectly supports cheating

Sydney, April 3: The Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) on Monday urged Cricket Australia to review the punishment imposed on Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft who were involved in the ball-tampering scandal during the Cape Town Test. However, doing so, the Australian Cricketers' Association is supporting cheaters and cheating.

 

Notably, Australian players including Steve Smith and David Warner were banned for a year from international cricket for orchestrating the event, while Bancroft was suspended for nine months after they were embroiled in the ball-tampering scandal during the Cape Town Test against South Africa.

The Australian Cricketers' Association President Greg Dyer said, "The proposed penalties are disproportionate relative to precedent. We ask that consideration be given to recalibrating the proposed sanctions, to consider options such as suspending or reducing part of the sanction. To consider allowing the players to return to domestic cricket earlier, for example, as part of their rehabilitation."

Dyer aggressively pointed out that the incidents of ball-tampering in cricket have also happened in the past and looking at those but the sanctions imposed in the recent one seems comparatively disproportionate. He further added that the association members are in ongoing conversations with Cricket Australia through this process.

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.