IPL 2018 | Rajasthan Royals to take decision on Steve Smith captaincy after BCCI instruction

03/25/2018

Rajasthan Royals have clarified that they will take a decision if Steve Smith will remain as the franchise’s captain for the upcoming Indian Premier League or not after getting instruction from the BCCI. Meanwhile, IPL president Rajeev Shukla has stated that they will take the decision very soon.

The International Cricket Council suspended Smith for the fourth Test against South Africa in Johannesburg after the match referee found him involving in things which is “contrary to the spirit of the game". The Australian skipper, who openly admitted to cheating and ball tampering, was charged 100 per cent of his match fees and given a one-Test ban by the ICC and will also have four demerit points on his record.

However, even before the decision came to notice, Smith and David Warner stood down from the captaincy and vice-captaincy role respectively for the remainder of the third Test as Cricket Australia launched an internal investigation before levelling its own sanctions. And in an interim basis, Tim Paine was appointed as captain for the Test.

However, there were reports that Smith’s IPL franchise, Rajasthan Royals, decided to sack him even before the season began. But the franchise's executive chairman Ranjit Barthakur released a statement saying that they are waiting for BCCI’s verdict.

"We have been made aware of the controversy of ball tampering in the ongoing Australia – South Africa series and await further instructions from BCCI, before we make any announcement," Barthakur said.

"We at Rajasthan Royals will not tolerate any actions that are unfair by definition and bring disrepute to the game of cricket. Our Zero tolerance policy applies to everyone in our team. Please bear with us."

Meanwhile, IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla clarified that IPL will wait for the ICC decision.

"On ball tampering issue, Ipl will wait for the decision of ICC and will act accordingly," Shukla tweeted.

Given the verdict is out now, the BCCI is expected to clarify the matter soon.