Even Sachin was accused of ball tampering: Shane Warne backs Smith; updates

Steve Smith and David Warner may be staring at a loss of Rs 200 million each arising from bans on the ball-tampering scandal

Steve Smith ball-tampering row: Australian cricketer Shane Warne believes that 12-months-ban is excessive punishment for tampering the ball. Some of the biggest players like Sachin Tendulkar and Mike Atherton have have been accused of the same charge, Warne mentions in his Facebook post. Warne also says the worldwide hysteria has resulted in harsh penalties.  

Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar reacts after Shane Warne accused him of ball tampering. In a tweet, Tendulkar expresses that "the right decision has been taken."

The news comes after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday banned former Australian skipper Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner from the upcoming 11th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after the Cricket Australia imposed a 12-month suspension on the tainted duo for the ball-tampering scandal.

Steve Smith and David Warner were due to lead Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad, respectively, in the upcoming edition, but the Australian pair stepped down from their posts in the wake of the ball-tampering row. 

IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla said that the BCCI decided to bar the two players from this season of the lucrative T20 tournament, keeping in mind the Cricket Australia's decision, according to news agency PTI.

Shukla further said that the two franchises would be given an opportunity to replace the two players.

Earlier, Smith and Warner were reportedly handed a 12-month suspension by Cricket Australia for their involvement in the ball-tampering scandal that took place during the third Test of the ongoing four-match series against South Africa in Cape Town.

Meanwhile, Cameron Bancroft, the third member found guilty in Cricket Australia's internal investigation and the player who actually tampered with the ball, has been handed a nine-month suspension.

The Cricket Australia had previously announced that it has found Steve Smith, Warner, and Cameron Bancroft guilty in the ball-tampering scandal, and suspended the trio for the fourth and final Test against South Africa in Johannesburg, beginning on Friday.

After the CA investigation, all three players were found guilty of breaching article 2.3.5 of Cricket Australia's Code of Conduct and were sent back home from South Africa on Thursday.

Following the fiasco, Smith and Warner stood down as captain and vice-captain, respectively.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) had initially handed a one-match suspension and fined 100 percent of his match fee to Smith for his leadership role in ball-tampering, while the global cricket body fined Bancroft 75 percent of his match fee and handed three demerit points to him for breaching Level 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct.

The incident took place during South Africa's innings on Saturday afternoon when Bancroft was seen on television holding a small yellow object while rubbing the rough side of the ball, before hiding the object in his pocket, then inside his trousers.

Here are the top developments in the ball-tampering row:

The right decision has been taken: Sachin Tendulkar

Amid the ball-tampering controversy, Sachin Tendulkar believes that the right decision has been taken.  Winning is important but the way you win is more important, he said in a tweet. It is important to uphold the integrity of the game, Sachin explains.


 Punishment doesn't fit the crime: Shane Warne 

In a Facebook post on Wednesday night, Shane Warne reacted on ball-tampering scandal. He said, "For that reason, I don't think at the moment talk of the punishment is fitting the crime ie a 12-month ban. They have been charged with breaching the spirit of the game, something that is so important to us Australians, and something which was important to every team I played in. At times we made mistakes, and we pushed things too far,"

"My punishment would have been to miss the fourth Test match, a huge fine, and be sacked as captain and vice-captain.

"But they should still be allowed to play after that," he said.

Warne also added, "I made lots of mistakes in my life, and will continue to make them as it’s called being human. I have always said to younger players, don’t worry about how many runs you make or how many tests you play, people will always judge you by the way you play the game."

There are thoose countries that don’t like Australia, don’t like individuals in the team, and there has been a build up of hate which has exploded and created this tornado of hysteria, Warne said in his post. 

Warne concluded his post by saying Australian cricket players would be able to overcome the negative reputation they were now facing. "They can come back from this, and they will."




 

IPL 2018 ban for Smith, Warner: Australian cricketers Steve Smith and David Warner have been banned from the upcoming edition of IPL starting from April 7 due to their involvement in the ball-tampering case with their national team.
 

"The CoA, in consultation with BCCI Acting President C.K. Khanna, IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla and BCCI Acting Hon. Secretary Amitabh Choudhary, has decided to ban Smith and Warner with immediate effect from participation in IPL 2018," BCCI said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The Board of Control for Cricket in India (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," it added.

The statement also clarified that the concerned IPL teams will be allowed replacement players.

Shukla told reporters that they were waiting for action by the ICC and the CA against these players before the BCCI decided on them.

Cricket Australia suspends Smith, Warner for 12 months: Four days after they were exposed, CA on Wednesday suspended disgraced captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner for 12 months each.

According to a CA statement, Smith and Bancroft were banned from leadership positions for 12 months after completing their one-year ban from international and domestic cricket.

Warner has, however, been banned from all leadership positions in Australian cricket for life.

Cricket Australia's investigation found Warner responsible for "development of a plan to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball" and "instruction to a junior player to carry out a plan".

The southpaw was also charged with providing advice to a junior player on how to tamper with the ball "including demonstrating how it could be done".

Warner also mislead the Newlands match officials by concealing his knowledge of and involvement in the plan and did not voluntarily report his involvement.

Meanwhile, Smith's ban was based on him knowing of the plan but failing to take steps to prevent it. Further, the probe found that it was Smith who directed "that evidence of attempted tampering be concealed on the field of play" - in other words, Smith told Bancroft to hide the yellow object now known to be sandpaper in his trousers.

Smith was also found to have "mislead match officials and others regarding Bancroft's attempts to artificially alter the condition of the ball" and "misleading public comments regarding the nature, extent and participants of the plan".

CA suspends Bancroft for 9 months: Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera using what is believed to be a tape before attempting to hide the object down the front of his pants moments before the umpires seemingly inquired about the contents of his pockets. Cricket Australia suspended the opener for nine months after television footage later showed Bancroft rubbing the ball and then seemingly putting an object back in his pocket.

As soon as the incident was shown on the giant screen, the player was questioned in the presence of Smith by the on-field umpires Richard Illingworth and Nigel Llong.

The CA Board, comprising Chairman David Peever, Earl Eddings, Bob Every, John Harnden, Tony Harrison, Jacquie Hey and Michelle Tredenick, as well as former Test players Mark Taylor and Michael Kasporwicz, convened on Wednesday to determine the sanctions imposed on the guilty trio.

Following the announcement, Cricket Australia has appointed wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine as the Test captain on a full-time basis.

Smith, Warner, Bancroft may challenge CA verdict: Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft have the right to challenge their verdicts and also the duration of their penalties via a CA code of behaviour hearing with an independent commissioner.

An official announcement of their penalties is expected to be announced soon.

The three will be allowed to play club cricket and were encouraged by CA to do so "to maintain links with the cricket community".

They were "required to undertake 100 hours of voluntary service in community cricket".

Warner stepped down as captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad: Prior to the BCCI ban, David Warner stepped down as captain of the IPL team Sunrisers Hyderabad.

“In light of recent events, David Warner has stepped down as captain of SunRisers Hyderabad. The new captain of the Team will be announced shortly. – K Shanmugam, CEO, SunRisers Hyderabad," tweeted Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Smith's deputy David Warner has already been stripped off the Australian vice-captaincy. 

'Staring at a loss of Rs 200 mn': Steve Smith and David Warner may be staring at a loss of Rs 200 million each arising from bans against playing for their national side and the cash-rich IPL, according to DNA. Steve Smith's central contract with CA is worth $1.5 million per annum and Warner's is $800,000. Apart from that, they are paid hefty amounts for each international match they feature in.

Smith, Warner, Bancroft sent home: Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland announced on Tuesday that Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft will return home and will not play the fourth and final Test match against South Africa that starts on Friday. 

Sutherland added that the players will be penalised with sanctions that will 'reflect the gravity' of the situation. Matthew Renshaw, Glenn Maxwell and Joe Burns have been named their replacements. Tim Paine, a batsman with only 10 test caps, has been appointed as the new skipper.

Cricket Australia's preliminary investigation is said to have reached the conclusion that coach Darren Lehman wasn't aware of the plan to tamper with the red cherry and so he will continue to be with the side.
 

Meanwhile, former Australia captain Michael Clark seemed to question the board's assertion that only three of the players were in the know of the plans to tamper with the ball prior to the episode.

 

Steve Smith stepped down as Rajasthan Royals captain: Steve Smith on Monday decided to step down from Rajasthan Royals' captaincy in the wake of the of severe backlash he has faced after admitting to ball tampering during the third Test against South Africa.

The decision was on expected lines the moment Cricket Australia indicated that harsher penalty was on cards for Smith and Co for their role in an episode that has shaken Australian sporting fraternity.


 

"The incident in Cape Town has certainly disturbed the cricketing world. We have been in constant touch with the BCCI and taken their counsel. Furthermore, we have been in regular contact with Smith," Rajasthan Royals' head of cricket Zubin Bharucha had said.

"It's in the best interest of the Rajasthan Royals that Smith steps down as captain so the team can get ready for the start of the IPL without the ongoing distractions," he had added.

Ajinkya Rahane to replace Steve Smith: Right-hand Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane will replace Steve Smith in the upcoming season of the IPL. "Ajinkya Rahane has been an integral part of the Royals family for a long time now and he understands the culture and values of our team. We have absolutely no doubt that he will be a great leader of the Rajasthan Royals," Zubin Bharucha had said.

Welcoming Rahane as the captain of the team, Ranjit Barthakur, executive Chairman, Rajasthan Royals, had said: "Ajinkya Rahane has stepped up as a leader whenever he has been given the opportunity, be it for India or at Rajasthan Royals."

"We consider him the right candidate to lead the side this crucial season when the team is coming back to the IPL after two years. We wish him all the best, " Barthakur had added.

Co-owner Manoj Badale had said: "Rajasthan Royals will do everything possible to protect the values and the integrity of the game. We agree with Steve's decision to step down as captain, and we are fortunate to have such a capable successor with Ajinkya Rahane. It is important that all cricket fans retain a balanced perspective on the situation.

"What happened in South Africa was clearly wrong, especially given that it appears to have been pre-meditated. That said, this will be a difficult time for Steve as well, given how much he cares about the game," Manoj Badale, the co-owner of Rajasthan Royals had said.

Steve Smith stepped down as Australian cricket team's captain: Caught up in the ball-tampering controversy, Steven Smith had stepped down as the Australian cricket team's captain for the remainder of the ongoing third Test against South Africa. 

The actions of the Australian team's leadership in the ball-tampering controversy would be investigated, Cricket Australia had said. Subsequently, the Australian government had asked the board to remove Smith as captain. Australian Prime Minister Turnbull had called the incident a "shocking disappointment". 

"It seemed completely beyond belief that the Australian cricket team had been involved in cheating," he had said.

After he owned up to the ball-tampering conspiracy in South Africa, the ICC had slapped Smith with a one-match suspension and fined his entire match fee. "ICC chief executive David Richardson laid the charge against Smith under to Article 2.2.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for players and player support personnel which prohibits 'all types of conduct of a serious nature that is contrary to the spirit of the game'," the ICC had said in a statement. 

"Smith accepted the charge and the proposed sanction of two suspension points which equates to a ban for the next Test match and which will see four demerit points added to his record," added the statement. 

Cricket Australia Statement on investigation: Full text

Following the announcements made yesterday in Johannesburg, the Cricket Australia Board has met again today to consider the report of the investigation into the incident in Cape Town.

The key finding from the investigation was that prior knowledge of the incident was confined to three players, Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft. 

Key findings:

Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft have been charged with a breach of Article 2.3.5 of the CA Code of Conduct, namely that their conduct: 

(a) was contrary to the spirit of the game; 

(b) was unbecoming of a representative or official; 

(c) is or could be harmful to the interests of cricket; and/or 

(d) did bring the game of cricket into disrepute.

In respect of the individual players concerned, Cricket Australia advises the following: 

Steve Smith was charged with a breach of Article 2.3.5 of the CA Code of Conduct based on:

(a) knowledge of a potential plan to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball; 

(b) failure to take steps to seek to prevent the development and implementation of that plan; 

(c) directing that evidence of attempted tampering be concealed on the field of play;

(d) seeking to mislead Match Officials and others regarding Bancroft’s attempts to artificially alter the condition of the ball; and 

(e) misleading public comments regarding the nature, extent and participants of the plan

David Warner was charged with a breach of Article 2.3.5 of the CA Code of Conduct based on:

(a) development of a plan to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball; 

(b) instruction to a junior player to carry out a plan to take steps to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper; 

(c) provision of advice to a junior player regarding how a ball could be artificially altered including demonstrating how it could be done; 

(d) failure to take steps to seek to prevent the development and/or implementation of the plan; 

(e) failure to report his knowledge of the plan at any time prior to or during the match; 

(f) misleading Match Officials through the concealment of his knowledge of and involvement in the plan; and

(g) failure to voluntarily report his knowledge of the plan after the match

Cameron Bancroft was charged with a breach of Article 2.3.5 of the CA Code of Conduct based on:

(a) knowledge of the existence of, and being party to, the plan to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper; 

(b) carrying out instructions to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball; 

(c) seeking to conceal evidence of his attempts to artificially alter the condition of the ball;

(d) seeking to mislead Match Officials and others regarding his attempts to artificially alter the condition of the ball; and 

(e) misleading public comments regarding the nature, extent, implementation and participants of the plan

Summary of sanctions

The range of sanctions available to Cricket Australia under Article 2.3.5 are extensive. The CA Board determined sanctions that would be appropriate in each player’s case, following their review of the report.

The Board has considered the recommendations and determined that the following sanctions will be offered to each player in accordance with the CA Code of Conduct process.

Steve Smith: Suspension of 12 months from all international and domestic cricket

David Warner: Suspension of 12 months from all international and domestic cricket

Cameron Bancroft: Suspension of 9 months from all international and domestic cricket

All three players will be permitted to play club cricket and will be encouraged to do so to maintain links with the cricket community. 

In addition, all three players will be required to undertake 100 hours of voluntary service in community cricket. 

Leadership

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. David Warner will not be considered for team leadership positions in the future. 

Cricket Australia Chairman, David Peever said:

“As I indicated yesterday, the CA Board understands and shares the anger of fans and the broader Australian community about these events. 

“They go to the integrity and reputation of Australian Cricket and Australian sport and the penalties must reflect that.

“These are significant penalties for professional players and the Board does not impose them lightly. It is hoped that following a period of suspension, the players will be able to return to playing the game they love and eventually rebuild their careers.”

Cricket Australia CEO, James Sutherland said:

“As the Chairman has noted, the sanctions we have announced are significant for the individuals involved. That is why the process has had to be thorough to ensure that all relevant issues have been examined. 

“I am satisfied that the sanctions in this case properly reflect a balance between the need to protect the integrity and reputation of the game and the need to maintain the possibility of redemption for the individuals involved, all of whom have learned difficult lessons through these events.

“As indicated, Cricket Australia will provide more details of an independent review into the conduct and culture of our Australian men’s team in due course.” Sutherland concluded.

APPENDIX

Summary of CA Code of Conduct process

By way of summary, the Code of Conduct process in this instance is as follows:

A report is lodged by the CEO with the Head of Integrity;

A review is completed by the Head of Integrity;

A Notice of Charge (in conjunction with the report) is provided to the player which includes a specific charge under the Code of Conduct and offers the proposed sanctions;

If the player accepts the charge and proposed sanctions, the matter is completed;

If the player disputes either the charge or sanction/s, there is a hearing before a CA Commissioner;

The player may appeal the outcome of that hearing, and if so there is a hearing before an Appeals Commissioner (who is selected from the remaining CA Commissioners).

 

With agency inputs

There are thoose countries that don’t like Australia, don’t like individuals in the team, and there has been a build up of hate which has exploded and created this tornado of hysteria.