SPONSORS SET TO PULL PLUG

left for Johannesburg declaring: ‘We know Australians want answers.’ He will act on the advice of Cricket Australia’s integrity unit, who continued their inquiry into what led Smith’s team to cheat during the third Test in Cape Town. The ICC has suspended Smith from the final Test starting on Friday. And Warner — a central figure in the Australia leadership group that hatched the plan for Cameron Bancroft to rough up one side of the ball — is set to be left out too, with year-long suspensions from Cricket Australia a likely punishment for both players. Though life bans are unlikely, Sutherland is under pressure from Australia’s prime minister Malcolm Turnbull to reflect the mood of the nation and take decisive action. Lehmann’s position looks equally untenable, with John Buchanan — one of his predecessors — casting doubt on Smith’s claims that the coach didn’t know about the plan. ‘It is unusual as the teams are walking out that the coach is unaware of what’s about to happen,’ Buchanan told the BBC. The repercussions of the players’ decision to break the laws continues to spiral. Qantas Airways, cereal brand Sanitarium, brewer Lion, kit firm Asics and Toyota were among sponsors who indicated their involvement was in jeopardy. A Sanitarium spokesman said: ‘The actions taken by the team don’t align with our values — (we do) not condone cheating in sport.’ Their concerns were echoed by Lion, who said: ‘Like the rest of Australia, we’re deeply concerned. This is not what you’d expect from anyone in sport.’ Qantas said in a statement: ‘This is deeply disappointing and not what anyone expects from our national team. We are in discussions with Cricket Australia as this issue unfolds.’ Tim Paine, the acting captain, admitted: ‘It’s been a horrible 24 hours. The enormity of what has happened is starting to sink in.’