Australian players’ union calls for a reduction in the bans given to Smith, Warner and Bancroft

When a person’s nightmare turns into reality, things seem to spiral out of hand real quick. That’s what happened two weeks ago to Australian trio of Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft after the whole ‘Sandpapergate’ incident came to light in the third Test against South Africa at Cape Town. After a week of speculation, the CA handed out 12-month bans to Smith and Warner as well as a 9-month ban to Cameron Bancroft as punishment for bringing disrepute to the Australian team.

Several former cricketers and critics voiced their opinion on the longevity of the bans imposed on the players, as many felt the CA were too harsh on the trio. Now, the Australian players union have also come out in support for Smith & Co. as they too have claimed that the bans imposed are completely “disproportionate”.

“The proposed penalties are disproportionate relative to precedent. We ask that consideration be given to recalibrating the proposed sanctions, to consider options such as suspending or reducing part of the sanction. To consider allowing the players to return to domestic cricket earlier, for example, as part of their rehabilitation,” Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) president Greg Dyer told a news conference in Sydney today.

The trio returned to Australia at the end of the last week and gave emotional conferences where they accepted responsibility for their actions although none suggested that they might appeal. Smith and Warner, who were also stripped of their leadership positions, may lose millions of dollars in earnings with sponsors dropping them last week and the bans costing them $1.85 million Indian Premier League contracts for this season.

Smith and Bancroft were banned from holding leadership positions within the Australian team for two years, while Warner will never be able to hold such a position again. The harsher penalty for Warner was due to his role in the ball-tampering incident as he was the one who concocted the whole plan and brought in Bancroft to execute the procedure.

Warner said that he was resigned to not playing for his country again, attracted some criticism after his news conference in Sydney on Saturday for not answering questions, but faced criticism as he deflected questions from the media. 

“I think Australia cried with Steve Smith last Thursday. I know I certainly did. We ask for this extraordinary contrition to be taken into account by Cricket Australia just as it would be in any fair and proper process,” added Dyer.

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