Cricket Australia (CA) got together to decide on the plea of Australian Cricketer’s Association. They had demanded to bring back Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft before the suspension periods. For their involvement in ball-tampering in South Africa, Smith and Warner were banned for a year while Bancroft was suspended for 9 months.

But CA has decided that the bans on the tainted trio will remain. The Board released an official statement in which it termed lifting the bans as inappropriate. As a result, the 3 won’t be available for the series against India at home. The ban on Bancroft ends on December 29, 2018, while Warner and Smith can make a return only after March 29, 2019.

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The official statement of CA

“The Cricket Australia Board has carefully considered all elements of the ACA submission and has determined that it is not appropriate to make any changes to the sanctions handed down to the three players,” CA Interim Chair Earl Eddings said.

“Despite the absence of any recommendation regarding the sanctions in the recently released Ethics Centre Review, the Board has deliberated on the ACA’s submission at length. We have reconsidered the sanctions as they apply to each of Steve, David and Cameron in light of the ACA’s submission and the Ethics Centre Review and Recommendations.

“The original decision of the Board to sanction the players was determined after rigorous discussion and consideration. CA maintains that both the length and nature of the sanctions remain an appropriate response in light of the considerable impact on the reputation of Australian cricket, here and abroad,” Eddings said.

“Steve, David and Cameron are working hard to demonstrate their commitment to cricket and have our continued support to ensure their pathway to return is as smooth as possible.

“We believe the ongoing conversation about reducing the sanctions puts undue pressure on the three players – all of whom accepted the sanctions earlier this year – and the Australian men’s cricket team. As such, the Cricket Australia Board doesn’t intend to consider further calls for amendments to the sanctions.

“Though we recognise that this decision will be disappointing for the ACA, we thank them for their submission. Our commitment to continue building a strong relationship between CA and the ACA in the interests of cricket in Australia remains and we look forward to meeting with them shortly to that end,” Eddings added.

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