'Show respect to Steve Smith and David Warner' - CSA requests South African crowd to behave

David Warner and Steve Smith will return to the place of their greatest shame when Australia travels to South Africa for a white-ball tour. The duo was banned for a year each in March 2018 for their role in the ball-tampering scandal that happened in the Cape Town Test match. Smith was the captain of the team, while Warner was his deputy when they asked Cameron Bancroft to use sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball.

There was a lot of hostility between the Australian players mainly David Warner and the South African crowd present at the venues. The left-handed opener had also gotten into an altercation with a fan during one of the matches and with both players returning to South Africa after two years, Cricket Australia is sending moral support in form of some officials as well with the team.

Not only the South African cricket board has also tightened their grip on the crowd and has requested them to not jeer at Smith and Warner, instead of asking them to respect the two players while they are on the field. It seems they don’t want any unforeseen incident taking place between the players and audience which mars the whole series which is expected to be played in great spirit.

Australia will play three T20Is and as many ODIs against South Africa

Cricket South Africa’s interim chief executive Jacques Faul put out a public request for the South African public to behave on the grounds when the two teams play.

“I would plead with South African fans to respect our opponents and don’t go overboard with these things (referring to Smith and Warner). It’s competitive on the field, and we don’t need it. Sport, in general, doesn’t need that behaviour,” Faul was quoted as saying by Sportstar.

Australia will play three T20Is, starting on February 21 and three ODIs during the tour. The duo received major boos during the World Cup and subsequent Ashes series in England, and even Indian captain Virat Kohli had to ask the fans to clap for Smith instead of jeering him.

“Stupidity comes very naturally to certain people. What happened last time the behaviour was unfortunate. As much as we appreciate the support and you have to acknowledge the importance of people supporting these events, I can only plead that people would treat players with respect,” Faul added.

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