Things have gone spiraling down for Australian cricket in the last 48 hours. After the whole Sandpaper Gate unfolded, captain Steve Smith and David Warner stepped down from their leadership positions.
Further, Smith was handed a one-match ban after conceding to cheating and bringing disrepute to the game as well as the Australian cricket.
The entire scandal could not have come at a worse time for Cricket Australia as it is currently negotiating lucrative TV deal, with the existing Aus $600 million five-year agreement expiring at the end of the year.
“This is deeply disappointing and certainly not what anyone expects from our national cricket team,” reckon’s Australia’s main sponsors Qantas Airlines.
In no way would we condone it in what we do: Magellan
“We are in discussions with Cricket Australia as this issue unfolds. Also, we are disappointed about the events that have emerged from the third Test in South Africa,” affirmed Commonwealth Bank, which sponsors the Australian women’s team.
“In addition, we have asked for a full explanation from Cricket Australia following the conclusion of its investigation into this affair,” added the financial giant according to AFP.
It doesn’t stop here for Cricket Australia, as their fund sponsors Magellan also asked for an explanation about the incident, thereby adding pressure on CA Chief, James Sutherland.
“We’re deeply concerned about it, it involves cheating, in no way would we condone it in what we do,” quoted Hamish Douglass, demanding a response from CA.
Executive chairman of the Skins compression wear a group of companies, Jaimie Fuller, expressed that CA’s reputation is now at stake while waiting for a proper response.
“Cricket is such a part of our national psyche that it helps define us. It helps give us a sense of what is fair, and what is not; what is right and what is wrong. Even though you are presiding over the sport, it doesn’t belong to you. You are the custodians of it. And now you must get your job right,” Jaimie Fuller stated.
