AUSTRALIAN PLAYERS' UNION CALLS FOR REDUCED BAN ON CRICKETERS INVOLVED IN BALL TAMPERING

Describing the bans handed to Australian cricketers Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft in the ball tampering scandal as “disproportionate”, the Australia's players' union has called for a reduction in the same. The cricketers were found guilty of tampering the ball in a bid to influence the game in the third test against South Africa. Following the incident, Smith and Warner were banned for a year by Cricket Australia while Bancroft received a ban of nine months. Smith and Warner stepped down as captains of their respective IPL franchises as well, Rajasthan Royals and SunRisers Hyderabad.