Steve Smith and David Warner have both been banned for 12 months by Cricket Australia (CA) for their roles in the ball-tampering controversy in South Africa, announced Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Cameron Bancroft, who was in fact caught actually tampering the ball, has been banned for nine months. Axed captain Smith, vice-captain Warner and batsman Cameron Bancroft have all been sent home from South Africa for their role in a scandal that has rocked Australian cricket.
After the probe, CA has confirmed that David Warner has been found guilty of coming up with the idea of ball-tampering while captain Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft had knowledge of the plan.
As a direct consequence of the CA’s decision, IPL Commissioner Rajeev Shukla has announced that both players will not be allowed to play the league this season.
All the three players have a week to appeal against the sanctions.
Captaincy For Smith Out of Sight
According to the statement released by CA, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft will not be considered for team leadership positions until a minimum of 12 months after the conclusion of their respective suspensions from international and domestic cricket. Any consideration of future leadership would be conditional on acceptance by fans and the public, form and authority among the playing group. While David Warner will not be considered for team leadership positions in the future.
Will Miss IPL 2018
After Cricket Australia barred the disgraced duo for their role in ball-tampering scandal, BCCI has banned Steve Smith and David Warner from taking part in this year's IPL.
Smith and Warner were supposed to captain their respective franchises Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad in this edition but had stepped down in the wake of the scandal and CA's sanction paved the way for BCCI to ban the duo.
They (Cricket Australia) have banned two players and we are also barring these two players from this year’s IPL.Rajeev Shukla, IPL chairman
“We wanted everything in our own hands. First, we waited for ICC's decision, after that Cricket Australia and then we decided on the matter.” Shukla added.
"We have decided to bar them from this season. The replacements will be made available to the two teams. We did not take any decision in haste, it was a well thought out decision.”
The Internal Probe
On Tuesday, Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland revealed the trio of Smith, Warner and Bancroft were the only members among players or support staff who had any knowledge of the ball-tampering plan. Sutherland also announced that coach Darren Lehmann had no idea about it and would continue his association with the team.
Smith, Warner and Bancroft were found to have breached article 2.3.5 of the CA Code of Conduct, which relates to conduct at any time that is contrary to the spirit of the game, unbecoming of a representative, harmful to the interests of the game, or bringing the game into disrepute.
The CA Board, comprised Chairman David Peever, Earl Eddings, Dr Bob Every, John Harnden, Tony Harrison, Jacquie Hey and Michelle Tredenick, as well as former Test players Mark Taylor and Michael Kasprowicz, convened for two-and-a-half hours on Wednesday to determine the sanctions imposed on the guilty trio.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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