David Warner’s Lifetime Leadership Ban Lifted Six Years After Ball Tampering Scandal – News18

Last Updated:October 25, 2024, 07:28 IST

Warner has retired from the international game, but the decision opens the door for a leadership role at his Big Bash League club Sydney Thunder.

Veteran David Warner’s lifetime ban on any leadership role within Australian cricket imposed after the infamous 2018 ‘Sandpaper Gate’ ball-tampering scandal was lifted on Friday.

It follows the Aussie great presenting his case to have the terms of the original sanction amended before a three-person panel.

“Cricket Australia’s (CA) Conduct Commission has modified David Warner’s lifetime leadership ban effective immediately,” read an official statement.

“In a unanimous decision, the independent three-member Review Panel determined that Warner had met the necessary criteria to have the ban lifted.”

In its decision the panel noted “the respectful and contrite tone of his (Warner’s) responses, as well as the content impressed the Review Panel and led it to the unanimous view that he was sincere and genuine in acknowledging responsibility for the conduct and in his statement that he had extreme remorse for his conduct”.

The panel also considered references citing “the contribution that Mr Warner has made, and can make in the future, towards the development of young cricketers in Australia if they were given the opportunity to be led by Mr Warner, his important continuing role in fostering interest in cricket especially with the South Asian community in Australia and generally.”

The hearing took place after Warner lodged an application to have the ban imposed in 2018 modified pursuant to Article 10 of the Code of Conduct.

Warner will now be eligible to hold leadership roles in all Australian Cricket competitions. He may have retired from the international game, but the decision opens the door for a leadership role at his Big Bash League club Sydney Thunder.

“I am pleased David has chosen to have his sanction reviewed and that he will be eligible to take up leadership positions in Australian cricket this summer,” said Cricket Australia chief Nick Hockley.

Warner was cast as the key villain in the so-called “Sandpaper-gate” scandal in Cape Town in 2018, having conspired with then-skipper Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft to illegally alter the surface of the ball.

He was suspended from playing for a year and banned from any leadership role for life.

(with agency inputs)