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Steve Smith takes the moral high ground, not to challenge ball-tampering sanctions

Banned Steve Smith will not challenge the sanctions imposed on him by Cricket Australia (CA) for his role in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, the former captain said on Wednesday.

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Disgraced Australian Cricket Captain Steve Smith reacts at Sydney International Airport in Sydney, Australia, March 29, 2018.
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Banned Steve Smith will not challenge the sanctions imposed on him by Cricket Australia (CA) for his role in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, the former captain said on Wednesday.

Smith and former vice captain Warner were handed 12-month bans and batsman Cameron Bancroft was suspended for nine months by CA after the latter was caught using a piece of sandpaper on the ball in the third test in Cape Town.

"I would give anything to have this behind me and be back representing my country," Smith said on his verified Twitter account. "But I meant what I said about taking full responsibility as Captain of the team.

"I won't be challenging the sanctions. They've been imposed by CA to send a strong message and I have accepted them."

The Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) has asked Cricket Australia to review the "disproportionate" sanctions imposed on Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft

Following the ball-tampering scandal that rocked Australia cricket, Smith and Warner were banned for a year from international cricket for orchestrating the event, while Bancroft was suspended for nine months.

"The proposed penalties are disproportionate relative to precedent. We ask that consideration be given to recalibrating the proposed sanctions, to consider options such as suspending or reducing part of the sanction. To consider allowing the players to return to domestic cricket earlier, for example, as part of their rehabilitation," the ESPNcricinfo quoted ACA president Greg Dyer as saying.

Australian cricket's ball-tampering scandal is a massive talking point at the Commonwealth Games with even tough-talking immigration officers concerned about the country's image.

"We like to play aggressive but fair, this (ball-tampering) was crossing the line. Hopefully, the Games will turn out good and we can move forward from this," said a volunteer working at the Games Village.

"Those apologies did soften things up. They seemed genuine and probably there will be second chances in this case," said a local TV journalist, covering the Games.

(With Agencies Inputs)

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