The dependable Ajinkya Rahane will replace Steve Smith as skipper of Rajasthan Royals and lead the team in the eleventh edition of Indian Premier League.

“The incident in Cape Town has certainly disturbed the cricket world. We have been in constant touch with the BCCI and taken their counsel. Furthermore, we have been in regular contact with Steve,” director of Rajasthan-based franchise Zubin Bharucha said in a statement.

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Bharucha also said that Smith believes given the current circumstances “it’s in the best interest of the Rajasthan Royals that he steps down as captain so that the team can get ready for the start of the IPL without the ongoing distractions.”

Talking about the announcement of their new captain, Bharucha said, “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.”

Rajasthan Royals appoint @ajinkyarahane88 as the captain for #IPL2018

“The game is bigger than any individual and we hold this thought close to our heart.”- Manoj Badale , the co-owner of Rajasthan Royals

Read more: https://t.co/qBQbgUFb2u pic.twitter.com/iy3sMVWlc1

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) March 26, 2018

“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.” said Manoj Badale, the co-owner of Rajasthan Royals.

Welcoming Rahane as their new leader, Ranjit Barthakur, Chairman of Rajasthan Royals said, “Ajinkya Rahane has stepped up as a leader whenever he has been given the opportunity, be it for Team 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.”

“Governance and security are the prime policies that we as a franchise have taken into consideration and hence Rajasthan Royals’ management is working towards deploying the best of governing and security methodologies to deliver the very best for the game of cricket in Jaipur,” added Barthakur.

Ajinkya Rahane-led Rajasthan Royals will play their first match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on 9th April 2018.

Rajasthan Royals final squad: Steven Smith, Benjamin Stokes, Jaydev Unadkat, Sanju Samson, Jofra Archer, Krishnappa Gowtham, Jos Buttler, Ajinkya Rahane, Darcy Short, Rahul Tripathi, Dhawal Kulkarni, Zahir Khan Pakteen, Ben Laughlin, Stuart Binny, Dushmantha Chameera, Anureet Singh, Aryaman Vikram Birla, Midhun S, Shreyas Gopal, Prashant Chopra, Jatin Saxena, Ankit Sharma, Mahipal Lomror.

Earlier on Sunday,

Australian captain Steve Smith admitted that he was the chief plotter in the ball-tampering scandal that has plunged the game into crisis and sparked a Cricket Australia probe.

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has called for Steve Smith and other members of the Australian cricket team who were part of the plan of tampering the ball to step down.

In a press release, the Commission said, “Given the admission by Australian captain Steve Smith, the ASC calls for him to be stood down immediately by Cricket Australia, along with any other members of the team leadership group or coaching staff who had prior awareness of, or involvement in, the plan to tamper with the ball.”

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull also reacted strongly to the incident, terming it a “shocking disappointment”.

Talking to the reporters, the Prime Minister said, “I have to say that the whole nation which holds those who wear the ‘baggy green’ up on a pedestal about as high as you can get in Australia, certainly higher than any politician that’s for sure, this is a shocking disappointment. It’s wrong and I look forward to Cricket Australia taking decisive action soon.”