Syed Kirmani, former India wicketkeeper-batsman, has demanded a bigger punishment for Steven Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft,
“It’s not good to ban them for one year. It’s a relaxed penalty. They should have been banned for a period of five years along with the coach. Their cricket will be over in five years. It’s a young team and decision is taken by coaches. All team is involved in the matter,” he told ANI.
Cricket Australia former a committee and investigated the matter after interviewing players.
After two days, it was officially declared that Steven Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft were the three players to be involved in the ‘Sandpaper Gate.’
CA confirmed that Darren Lehmann had no role to play in the saga and no action was taken against him.
Today (March 28), CA announced punishments for the players.
Smith and Warner were banned for one year while Bancroft was handed a ban of nine months.
Along with ban, Smith and Warner were also stripped off their post of captain and vice-captain respectively.
In fact, the former will only be considered for captaincy post after 24 months while latter will never be considered for this post.
Both the players will also miss the coming season of IPL after BCCI decided not allow them to play in the league.
As per the rules, the three players are allowed to participate in IPL, county cricket and Grade cricket in Australia.
Bancroft is already a signed player with Somerset.
All the three players have left for home today (March 28) from South Africa.
Smith will also address media upon his arrival to Australia.
As per the reports, Smith might play county season.
He might play for Surrey, the same county for which Virat Kohli is expected to play.
Warner might also sign for a county club in the coming season.
Meanwhile, Matt Renshaw, Joe Burns and Glenn Maxwell will join Australian camp in South Africa.
They were called in as replacements for the three banned players.
They are expected to walk in the playing XI to replace three banned players.
South Africa are expected to go unchanged in the final Test.
The fourth and the final Test starts on March 30 in Johannesburg.