CAPE TOWN - Australian captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner are set to be banned for 12 months, while Cameron Bancroft is believed to cop a nine-month suspension for their roles in the ball-tampering scandal, according to a report by specialist cricket website espncricinfo.com
Cricket Australia have yet to confirm whether the sanctions are true.
CA chief executive James Sutherland said on Tuesday night, where he announced that Smith, Warner and Bancroft will be sent home on Wednesday, that he would make public the sanctions for the trio “within 24 hours”, which means later today.
The ICC only suspended Smith for the fourth Test against the Proteas at the Wanderers starting on Friday, with the right-hander receiving four demerit points and a fine of 100% of his match fee.
Bancroft was handed three demerit points and a 75% fine, while Warner was not sanctioned by the cricket governing body.
Cricinfo reported that the three players would be able to appeal their sanctions and length of their suspensions with an independent commissioner, while Smith was expected to speak to the media once he arrives back in Australia.
Sutherland said that CA’s preliminary findings of their investigation showed that coach Darren Lehmann did not have “prior knowledge” of the ball-tampering plot, and that he will continue in his position for the rest of his contract, which is due to expire at the conclusion of the 2019 Ashes series.