Cricket Australia defends role in ball-tampering row, announces player review | Cricket - Hindustan Times
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Cricket Australia defends role in ball-tampering row, announces player review

Agence France-Presse, Brisbane | ByAgence France-Presse
Apr 06, 2018 12:45 PM IST

Critics have questioned whether Cricket Australia’s role in the ball-tampering row should come under scrutiny, but chairman David Peever said he did not intend to step down and that chief executive James Sutherland’s job was not in jeopardy.

Cricket Australia top chiefs on Friday ruled out stepping down after a ball-tampering scandal that shocked the nation, saying it was “not the time for a witch-hunt” as a review into player conduct was announced.

Cricket Australia chairman David Peever (not in picture) said he did not intend to step down and that chief executive James Sutherland’s job was not in jeopardy due to the ball-tampering row.(AP)
Cricket Australia chairman David Peever (not in picture) said he did not intend to step down and that chief executive James Sutherland’s job was not in jeopardy due to the ball-tampering row.(AP)

The sport has been engulfed in one of its biggest crisis after former captain Steve Smith, his deputy David Warner and batsman Cameron Bancroft attempted to alter the ball’s condition in the third Test in South Africa last month.

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Smith and Warner were banned for a year and Bancroft for nine months, with the trio accepting their sanctions on Wednesday and Thursday.

Critics have questioned whether CA’s role in the affair should come under scrutiny, but chairman David Peever said he did not intend to step down and that chief executive James Sutherland’s job was not in jeopardy.

READ | Ricky Ponting says Australia’s ‘team culture thing’ blown out of proportion in ball-tampering row

“James Sutherland’s position is not under review, he continues to retain the full support of the board,” Peever told reporters in Brisbane.

“In respect of my own position, no, I do not intend to step down, and that hasn’t been suggested by the board. Our task now is to work through this problem and make sure we come through and cricket comes through it much more strongly.

“I think we will all come under the microscope about what is happening in the organisation. But this is not the time for a witch-hunt.”

Peever said the governing body was “moving forward”, with an independent review announced last week to “have a broad remit” and look into wider cultural and organisational issues in the sport.

READ | Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh to undergo ankle surgery

He added that former ex-Test opener Rick McCosker would also chair a separate player and former-player driven process to consider a charter setting out “standards of behaviour and expectations of Australian teams”.

“It is anticipated that this process will include assessments as to whether changes to codes and standards governing player conduct are required,” Peever, a former managing director of mining giant Rio Tinto, said.

All three players have been dumped by sponsors as a result of the scandal, while Cricket Australia has been dropped by its top sponsor, fund manager Magellan.

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