Ball Tampering: ICC Hands Steve Smith One-Match Ban

Australian cricket captain Steve Smith has been handed a one-match ban from the International Cricket Council and has been fined 100 percent of his match fee after Smith admitted to being party to ball tampering. ICC chief executive Dave Richardson said “the decision made by the leadership group of the Australian team to act in this way is clearly contrary to the spirit of the game, risks causing significant damage to the integrity of the match, the players and the sport itself and is therefore ‘serious’ in nature.”

Earlier on Sunday, Smith and vice-captain David Warner agreed to stand down for the remainder of the third test match between Australia and South Africa, after video footage from the match showed Australian player Cameron Bancroft using tape to alter the condition of the ball being used in the game. Smith confessed to ball-tampering in a press conference after the third day’s play. Cameron has been fined 75 percent of his match fee and handed three demerit points.

Wicket-keeper Tim Paine has been appointed as acting captain. Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said in a statement that the board will investigate the matter with urgency.

Reactions to the incident on Saturday were swift. Australian Prime Minister said it “beggars belief” that role models such as Australian cricketers were “engaged in cheating like this”. Smith’s predecessor Michael Clarke said he was feeling “pretty emotional” after the revelations.

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