'Probably been the only one that's ever copped lot of flak' - David Warner claims unfair treatment in Sandpapergate scandal

Even after six years of the infamous Sandpapergate scandal, David Warner feels targeted by one section of the cricketing community. The southpaw claimed that he is the only player still receiving a lot of flak, while others are protected differently. 

Warner and Steve Smith, who was captaining the side against South Africa in 2018 were banned from professional cricket for a year after the Sandpapergate saga. Both returned a year later against England and were welcomed with loud boos. As time passed, Smith led the national team again while Warner was never given the opportunity despite talks.

The 37-year-old added that he has absorbed all the criticism over the years but will not cop with it anymore. Warner also feels to have taken pressure off some of the players and voiced against the unfair treatment he has received. 

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“For me, it's about moving forward. My back was always up against the wall when I came back and I knew that. I copped my fair share over my career. Coming back since (his 12-month ban) I've probably been the only one that's ever copped a lot of flak, from whether it's people who don't like the Australian cricket team or don't like me,” Warner was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

“I've always been that person who has copped it. OK, it's fine if they want to do that, but I always feel like I've taken a lot of pressure off a lot of guys as well and I think understandably, I've been that person to be able to absorb that. But one can only absorb (so much). For me, it's great to go out knowing I'm not going to cop it anymore,” he added.

Warner will call time on his international career after the ongoing T20 World Cup. Despite being one of the legends of the game, he estimates that the criticism won’t stop and will continue ever after 20-30 years. However, he expects the true cricket fans would remember him as a ferocious batter and not because of the scandal.

“I think it's going to be inevitable that when people talk about me in 20 or 30 years' time, there will always be that. There will always be that sandpaper scandal. But for me, if they're real cricket tragics and they love cricket, and my closest supporters, they will always see me as that cricketer.

“Someone who tried to change the game. Someone who tried to follow in the footsteps of the openers before me and tried to score runs at a great tempo and change Test cricket in a way. Be that person who went from Twenty20 cricket to play Test cricket - batting at No.6 and then opening,” he concluded.