South African team manager Mohammed Mosajee has opined the relationship with their Australian counterparts won’t be affected by the ball-tampering scandal during the 3rd Test at the Newlands in Cape Town.
He further stated South Africa was more focused on applying “relentless pressure” on Australia. They are more keen on taking a 2-1 lead in the four-match rubber.
Australia’s skipper Steven Smith and deputy David Warner have stepped down from the captaincy for the remainder of this Test and wicket-keeper Tim Paine will be leading the side.
Smith admitted the leadership group of Australia had chalked out a plan during lunch on Saturday to change the condition of the ball with a foreign substance to bring more reverse swing into play. Smith said he was not proud of what he has done and promised that it won’t happen in future under his leadership.
“I don’t think it will hurt the relations between the two boards,” Moosajee was quoted as saying by the reporters on Sunday.
“The process is now in the hands of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The fact that Australia has admitted to what they have done… there is no place for that in cricket at all. They will go through an internal process as well. We leave it to the ICC to make the call on what the next steps are and what the sanction will be.”
He added the team was focused on winning the 3rd Test and gaining a 2-1 lead.
“(Coach) Ottis Gibson addressed the boys this morning, and the focus is very much about applying relentless pressure. From a mental space point of view, the team are certainly in a good one. The most important thing for us is to focus on the job at hand and win the test match.”
The team manager was not surprised with Smith’s confession at a press conference after videos showed Cameron Bancroft trying to hide a sticky tape which he used to rub on the ball.
“When the evidence is as damning as it was, it is sometimes better just to plea and comes clean. That is probably what they were thinking,” he added.
“There are so many cameras these days if people are trying to do something untoward it is only a matter of time before they will be exposed.”
Mosajee did make concern with on-field umpires Nigel Llong, and Richard Illingworth didn’t change the ball after getting clear evidence of ball tampering.
“From my understanding of the rules, if there was evidence (of ball tampering) like there was for everyone to see, then they should have changed the ball and a five-run penalty awarded.”
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