Warner, Smith and Bancroft barred from Cricket Australia awards

The award function is set to take place on February 11.

The year 2018 turned out to be a forgettable one for Australian cricket. Three of their players- David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft– were found guilty of ball-tampering in the Cape Town Test against South Africa. Subsequently, the trio was handed suspensions by Cricket Australia (CA), then headed by James Sutherland, who stepped down as the chief last year after the incident.

Even as Bancroft’s ban ended last year and he has already played a few matches for Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League (BBL), Warner and Smith need to wait for around two and a half months in order for their suspensions to end. In the meantime, it has been learned that they haven’t been invited for the CA awards, which is set to take place on Monday, February 11, as they don’t meet the criterion.

More blows for the trio

“The eligibility rules for the Test, ODI and T20 International Players of the Year provide that where a player receives a suspension for a time period, rather than specific matches, the player is automatically disqualified from winning the award for any form of the game that the player played during the period of the suspension,” a CA spokesperson was quoted as saying in Sydney Morning Herald.

“In the case of Steve, David and Cameron, they will be ineligible to be awarded Test, ODI or T20 International Player of the Year at this year’s Australian Cricket Awards.”

Ever since the occurring at the Newlands, Australia have strained to find their feet in all three formats. Tim Paine and Aaron Finch have led the team, but haven’t been able to turn the national team’s wretched fortunes around. The Aussies are currently playing the three-match ODI series against India.

Warner and Smith have also played quite a few amount of cricket last year, especially T20 tournaments around the globe. Warner is currently leading the Sylhet Sixers in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League. Smith also led the Comilla Victorians in two matches but had to pull out due to an elbow injury.

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