Gautam Gambhir criticises the Australian board for the harsh sanctions against Warner and Smith

Australian cricket has recently been in absolute shambles owing to the ball-tampering debacle. Subsequently, David Warner and Steve Smith have been handed a ban for a year while Cameron Bancroft, who tampered the ball, was slapped with a nine-month ban. Subsequently, Darren Lehmann, the Australian head-coach has also announced his retirement post the completion of the fourth Test.

Steve and Warner, who were part of the Rajasthan Royals and the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, were barred from playing in the tournament. Previously, James Sutherland, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) asked Bancroft, Smith, and Warner to leave South Africa with immediate effect. However, due to incomplete investigations, the verdict wasn’t delivered.

The sanctions were released the next day, much to the agony of the players and most importantly, the reputation of cricket in Australia. Recently, Steve Smith attended a press conference where he apologized and broke down in tears. He had his father standing behind him when he was delivering the statement. To add insult to injury, he was greeted by a hostile crowd at the Johannesburg airport while returning from South Africa.

“Let’s not label him corrupt”- Gambhir

Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir, the skipper of the Delhi Daredevils, has churned out a separate angle to the case. David Warner and Steve Smith had previously taken a stand against the Australian board for a hike in pay package, which Gambhir feels might be a reason for the harsh punishment these two have suffered. He also brought forth Ian Chappell’s alleged tussle with Don Bradman during the Kerry Packer series as a point of reference.

Meanwhile, the Indian batsman also feels that despite the fact that Smith was involved in the offence he didn’t cheat the game and was trying to win the game for Australia. Moreover, he has also expressed his concerns over Smith’s family being targeted for the issues which sent shockwaves around Australian cricket for the past few days.

Here are the Tweets from Gautam Gambhir

While cricket needs to be corruption-free but feel sanctions on Aussies bit harsh. Are @stevesmith49 & @davidwarner31 paying for revolt for pay hike? History has it administrators deride those who standup for players’ cause. Classic case: Ian Chappell #BallTampering #StevenSmith

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) March 29, 2018

Feel sorry for @stevesmith49 dad (in pic) other family members. Hope media n Aussie public go easy on them as families can be soft targets. More than d ban living wid this feeling of being called a cheat is a bigger punishment. #BallTamperingRow pic.twitter.com/L2sV8BgWAH

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) March 29, 2018

I may be getting emotional but @stevesmith49 doesn’t look to me a cheat. Don’t know about u but I see in him a desperate leader trying to win a Test match for his country, his team. Yes, indeed, his methods were questionable but let’s not label him corrupt #BallTamperingScandal pic.twitter.com/xOxAM45QXM

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) March 29, 2018

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