Players’ union appealed to reduce bans for ball-tampers

Smith Warner

XtraTime Web Desk: Australian players’ union claimed for a reduction of banning to skipper Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft for the ball tampering issue in South Africa describing them as “disproportionate”.

Former skipper Smith and vice-captain Warner handed one-year ban and Bancroft was given nine-month ban by Cricket Australia. They were seen using a piece of sandpaper on the ball in the third Test in Cape Town.

“The proposed penalties are disproportionate relative to precedent,” Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) president Greg Dyer told a news conference in Sydney on Tuesday.

“We ask that consideration be given to recalibrating the proposed sanctions, to consider options such as suspending or reducing part of the sanction.

“To consider allowing the players to return to domestic cricket earlier, for example, as part of their rehabilitation.”

The players have until Thursday to appeal their bans, decisions Dyer believed were “imminent” but “highly personal” to be decided by the players with their own legal counsel.