Steve Smith and David Warner have been given a one-year ban, which rules them out of the home series against India, after the Australians cricketers disgraced themselves in the ball-tampering scandal. Cameron Bancroft, meanwhile, was handed a nine-month suspension as Cricket Australia came down heavily on the errant trio.
“Steven Smith and David Warner, formerly captain and vice captain of Australia, have been banned for 12 months by Cricket Australia for their roles in the pre-meditated plan to tamper with the ball on the third day of the Cape Town Test against South Africa,” ESPNcricinfo reported.
Smith, Warner and Bancroft were sent back home after the Test match against South Africa in Cape Town after the Australian skipper admitted to tampering with the ball with sandpaper during the Test match.
CA also said in a statement that Warner will not be considered for team leadership positions in the future.
Chief coach Darren Lehmann was given a clean chit after CA concluded its preliminary investigations.
Tim Paine will take over as captain in the final Test match in Johannesburg as Glenn Maxwell, Joe Burns and Matt Renshaw join the team tomorrow.
Earlier in the day, Warner stepped down as IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper, days after Smith gave up his captaincy of the Rajasthan Royals.
The three players reportedly have a week to appeal against the sanctions.
With inputs from agencies