Steve Smith, David Warner Likely to Face Life Ban Over Ball Tampering Scandal: Report
After the ball tampering scandal, both Smith and Warner were removed as captain and vice-captain respectively.
After facing a one-match ban by ICC, Australian captain Steve Smith may be banned for life by Cricket Australia (CA) under its code of behaviour. Not just Smith, but his deputy David Warner may also face similar punishment. Young opener Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera tampering with the ball during the third day’s play of the Cape Town Test. Both Bancroft and Smith later admitted to have tampered with the ball.
After the ball tampering scandal, both Smith and Warner were removed as captain and vice-captain respectively. As per ESPNCricinfo report, Smith and Warner could now face a lifetime ban.
According to the the report, the "leadership group”, which Smith named during a press conference did not involve players like Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, but Warner was part of the group that decided to tamper with the ball.
CA chief executive James Sutherland also issued a public apology to Australian followers. "To our Australian Cricket Fans, we are sorry," Sutherland was quoted as saying.
"We are sorry that you had to wake up this morning to news from South Africa that our Australian Men's Cricket team and our Captain admitted to conduct that is outside both the Laws of our game and the Spirit of Cricket. This behaviour calls into question the integrity of the team and Cricket Australia."
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 26, 2018 01:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).