Steve Smith, Cameron Bancroft accepts punishment with full responsibility for their role in #balltamperingscandal

Melbourne, April 4: Former Australian Skipper Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft on Wednesday accepted the punishment of a ban with full responsibility for his role in ball tampering scandal. 

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.

After accepting the punishment, Steve Smith also confirmed that he will not be appealing his 12-month ban handed out by Cricket Australia. He on a twitter said, “I would give anything to have this behind me and be back representing my country. But I meant what I said about taking full responsibility as Captain of the team. I won’t be challenging the sanctions. They’ve been imposed by CA to send a strong message and I have accepted them.”

However, there had been some speculation as to whether Smith will appeal the sanction that prevents him from playing international or domestic cricket for a period of 12 months which was ended by former Australian skipper via tweet.

Meanwhile, Cameron Bancroft, too, tweeted out his acceptance of a nine-month suspension for his involvement in the ball-tampering incident in the Cape Town Test against South Africa last month.

He in a tweet said, “Today I lodged the paperwork with Cricket Australia and will be accepting the sanction handed down. I would love to put this behind me and will do whatever it takes to earn back the trust of the Australian public. Thank you to all those who have sent messages of support.”

David Warner so far have not made public his decision on the sanction yet, he did address a press gathering soon after returning home from South Africa, where he said, “In the back of my mind, there's a tiny ray of hope that I may one day play for my country again but I'm resigned to the fact that might never happen.”

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.