Cricket Australia (CA) have denied reports that former Australia captain Steve Smith and opening batsman David Warner’s suspensions for their part in the ball tampering scandal have been relaxed.
Claims emerged in reports that Smith and Warner’s 12-month bans could be softened to allow them to play in the latter stages of Australia’s first-class JLT Sheffield Shield season which begins in October.
Smith was captain when Cameron Bancroft was caught rubbing sandpaper on the ball in a test match and, along with Warner who was part of a ‘leadership group’ with knowledge on the plan, received a 12 month ban from CA and lost their lucrative Indian Premier League contracts.
Smith was the number one ranked test batsman for three years and is banned from taking a leadership role with Australia for two years, while Warner is prevented from ever having captaincy duties.
“At no stage have we, or are we considering lessening the current sanctions in place for respective players in relation to the incident in South Africa,” a CA spokesperson told cricket.com.au
“The CA Code of Conduct does not allow for reversal or lessening of sanctions once players have fully accepted the charges.”
Smith and Warner’s bans end in late March and the JLT Sheffield Shield final scheduled from March 28 – April 1. Bancroft should be available for selection for Western Australia when his suspension expires in December.
The trio were banned for England’s ODI series whitewash win over Australia but have been allowed to play overseas cricket. Smith recently scored a half century on his return to cricket in Canada’s inaugural T20 tournament with Toronto Nationals, and Warner has been named captain of Winnipeg Hawks.
Three months on from the incident in Cape Town which captured the attention of the world, Warner has played down suggestions he and Smith have not been seeing eye-to-eye.
"We're good mates, if you're at the hotel you will see us hanging out with each other,” Warner said.
"We haven't been able to catch up because he's been away and Cameron (Bancroft) has been in Perth and I've been doing my thing with my family at home."
