'The decision sent a wrong message' - CA chairman Richard Freudenstein admits Tim Paine should have been sacked as captain three years ago

Tim Paine landed in hot waters after his four-year old conversation with a then woman collegue came to the light. The veteran cricketer had sent several inappropriate messages to a female co-worker at Cricket Tasmania in 2017. With the matter becoming public, Paine decided to step down as Australian captain.

Notably, the matter was reported to Cricket Australia three years ago but the officials reportedly tried shredding the matter as the Aussie team was already reeling from the ball-tampering saga in 2018. However, Cricket Australia chairman Richard Freudenstein has now admitted that Paine should have been sacked three years ago.

It has to be noted that Freudenstein didn’t hold the position at the helm when the matter was reported. Mentioning the same, the CA boss admitted the approach of the previous sent a wrong message.

The role of Australian cricket captain must be held to the highest standards

“I can’t talk about the 2018 decision, I wasn’t there. But I am saying based on the facts as they are today the board of Cricket Australia would not have made that decision,” Freudenstein was quoted as saying by Fox Cricket.

“I acknowledge the decision clearly sent the wrong message that this behaviour is acceptable and without serious consequences.The role of Australian cricket captain must be held to the highest standards,” he added.

Meanwhile, Paine expressed immense regret over the matter while addressing the media and even broke down. He, however, thanked his wife and family for forgiving him despite the fiasco.

“I’m announcing my decision to stand down as the captain of the Australian men’s test team. It’s an incredibly difficult decision, but the right one for me, my family, and cricket,” PainePaine read out from a statement at the presser.

“On reflection, my actions in 2017 do not meet the standard of an Australian cricket captain, or the wider community. I’m deeply sorry for the hurt and pain that I have caused to my wife, my family, and to the other party,” he added.