Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

ICC suspends Smith for a Test over tampering row

- HTC and Agencies letters@hindustant­imes.com

Steve Smith has been suspended by the Internatio­nal Cricket Council for one Test for his admission to ball-tampering in the Cape Town game against South Africa on Sunday. Cameron Bancroft, who was spotted by Television cameras using sandpaper to scrap the ball, has been fined 75 percent of his match fee and handed three demerit points for his role.

Smith’s ban would mean Tim Paine will captain the Australian side for the final Test in Johannesbu­rg. Paine is currently captaining the Australian side after Smith was told to step aside from captaincy following his admission of ball-tampering.

Speaking on the ban, ICC CEO 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

NEW DELHI:

to the integrity of the match, the players and the sport itself and is therefore ‘serious’ in nature. As captain, Steve Smith must take full responsibi­lity for the actions of his players and it is appropriat­e that he be suspended.”

Muted chorus of boos greeted the Australian cricket team when stand-in captain Tim Paine led the team out at the start of play against the South African cricket team on day 4. Paine was made captain for the rest of the third Test -- after Smith and vice-captain David Warner were stood down following Saturday’s revelation­s.

The Newlands Test between South Africa and Australia was engulfed with controvers­y after

 ?? AFP ?? Earlier, skipper Smith and vicecaptai­n David Warner stepped down following Saturday’s balltamper­ing revelation­s.
AFP Earlier, skipper Smith and vicecaptai­n David Warner stepped down following Saturday’s balltamper­ing revelation­s.

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