Smith and Warner were handed a 12-month ban, while Bancroft was given a 9-month ban.
Australian cricketer Steve Smith. (Photo: AFP)
Veteran Australian player Ian Chappell feels disgraced Australia trio Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft have the right to be angry that administrators got away while they were banned.
Former Australia captain Steve Smith his deputy David Warmer and young batsman Cameron Bancroft were banned for a lengthy time in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal in March in South Africa’s Cape Town.
Chappell’s statement has come a day after a Sydney-based Ethics Centre in their review of the scandal condemned an “arrogant” and “controlling culture” at CA.
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“If they are banned and no administrators are tossed out on their backside then that’s not going to help to marry them up again – Cricket Australia and the players,” Chappell told foxsports.com.au.
Ian Chappell also claimed that the players paying for the mistakes of the administrators has been “the history of the game”. “Quite rightly, the players are going to be angry about that – the fact that it’s only them who have copped it in the neck. But that’s the history of the game. The administrators make the mistakes and the players cop the punishment,” Chappell added.
Following the review report of the incident, Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) has also said that the players should have their bans reduced as they were under too much pressure from the administrators. “There must be a reconsideration of the harshness of the penalties handed down to Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft,” ACA President Greg Dyer was quoted as saying.
Following the sandpaper gate incident, Smith and Warner were handed a 12-month ban, while Bancroft was given a 9-month ban.
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