The sandpaper gate scandal in 2018 saw the involvement of three Australian cricketers, including Cameron Bancroft, Steve Smith, and David Warner. While skipper back then, Smith was put on a two-year ban from leading duties, and a lifetime captaincy ban fell on Warner’s laps, who was the vice-captain of the team.
While Smith’s ban stint to take charge of a leadership role had already ended as he led Australia in once in the absence of Pat Cummins, Warner is yet pleading with Cricket Australia (CA) to reconsider his lifetime captaincy ban allowing him to be in the leading roles once again. Both were handed over a 12-month ban from playing any form of cricket.
It has been heard that CA is easing things with Warner, likely to lift the captaincy ban from him. On Monday, CA revealed a code of conduct for its players, which could ease the imposition on him, making him eligible to lead Australia at any level once again.
As released by the board in an official statement,
“Under the changes, players and support staff can now apply to have long-term sanctions modified. Any applications will be considered by a three-person Review Panel, comprising independent Code of Conduct Commissioners, which must be satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist to justify modifying a sanction.”
It further reads,
“These circumstances and considerations will include whether the subject of the sanction has demonstrated genuine remorse; the subject’s conduct and behavior since the imposition of the sanction; whether rehabilitation programs have been completed undertaken (if applicable) and the length of time that has passed since the sanction was imposed and whether sufficient time has passed to allow for reform or rehabilitation.”
“The code of conduct states this process: ‘Acknowledges that Players and Player Support Personnel are capable of genuine reform or rehabilitation and is intended to provide the Player or Player Support Personnel with an opportunity to resume their previously held positions or responsibilities in specific circumstances,”
Notably, many former cricketers and Warner’s mates have raised their voices for him, appealing to CA to consider him for leadership roles once again. Also, Aaron Finch, who retired from ODI cricket, left some potential names to replace him as the format’s skipper, and Warner was one of them, irrespective of the sandpaper gate scandal.
Finch had said,
“I don’t think [it would be an issue]. He (Smith) captained a Test match in Adelaide after Pat was out with Covid. So I think that’s all been put to bed.”
However, CA named Cummins to lead the team in the 50-over format. Nevertheless, with the T20I uncertainties of Finch, Warner might be the next in line to take over the shortest-format captaincy. He might also be allowed to lead his BBL franchise in the upcoming season of the tournament in case the lifetime captaincy ban from him is lifted.
