Harbhajan Singh changes stance on Australian ball-tampering issue

The cricketing fraternity is still reeling in the aftermath of the ugly ball-tampering scandal that cast a shadow over the third Test match between Australia and South Africa. While some have supported Cricket Australia’s (CA) decision to slap Australian captain, Steve Smith and vice-captain, David Warner with one year-long ban, many have come out in support of the distressed Australian duo. Indian spinner, Harbhajan Singh, however, seems to be divided in his opinion about the incident.

While people all over the globe had been initially enraged over the horrendous scandal where Australia’s Cameron Bancroft tried to manipulate the ball by using yellow adhesive tape and sand, the anger seems to have dissipated considerably. A recent press conference that saw Smith break down in front of the media while confessing to his mistake, has stirred a sense of empathy in the hearts of the onlookers. Warner, on his part, has issued a statement on the social media and heartbreaking visuals of his wife, Candice Warner crying at the airport have also emerged.

Harbhajan calls for harsher punishment, changes tune later

After the shocking visuals of Bancroft trying to tamper the ball loomed large on the on-field cameras, Smith came out to confess having prior knowledge of the ministrations and went on to admit that the “leadership group” knew about the proceedings.

Subsequently, Smith was suspended for one match and also docked his entire match fee, while Bancroft was handed with a 75% deduction to his match fee and three demerit points for breaching Level 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct. This prompted an indignant tweet from Bhajji, who called for stricter measures in his tweet.

wow @ICC wow. Great treatment nd FairPlay. No ban for Bancroft with all the evidences whereas 6 of us were banned for excessive appealing in South Africa 2001 without any evidence and Remember Sydney 2008? Not found guilty and banned for 3 matches.different people different rules

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) March 25, 2018

Soon after, Cricket Australia conducted a thorough investigation and in a decision that jolted the world, imposed one year-long ban on both Smith and Warner, while Bancroft was banned for nine months. What followed were gut-wrenching public addresses from both Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft, where the former broke down and asked for forgiveness from his fans and his countrymen. As a response, Singh posted a tweet where, contrary to his previous scathing attack, he highlighted the plight of the two Australians and even suggested that Cricket Australia should reconsider the quantum of the ban.

A year ban for ball tempering ?? That’s a joke.What kind of crime they have done ?Taking the game away from someone for a year is absolutely nonsense.understand if ban was for 1 test series or 2 but this is ridiculous.hope @CricketAus reduce th ban @stevesmith49 @davidwarner31

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) March 29, 2018

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