David Warner to Captain Again; Cricket Australia Lifts Leadership Ban
Cricket Australia (CA), governing body for professional and amateur cricket in Australia, lifts leadership ban on David Warner ahead of BBL|14. With this decision, David has become eligible to captain his BBL club Sydney Thunder. The lifetime ban was imposed on him in the wake of the 2018 sandpaper scandal modified by an independent panel. The 37-year-old, who was vice-captain of Australia's Test team at the time of the sandpaper incident, had previously led his BBL outfit Sydney Thunder where he is a contracted player for BBL|14.
Warner, had retired from first-class and international limited-overs cricket earlier this year. This decision has also furthered his case when he appeared before a three-member panel, including Alan Sullivan KC, Jeff Gleeson KC and Jane Seawright, earlier this month. The panel has now amended the terms of the original sanction, finding that Warner had met all criteria to have the 2018 ban lifted with that decision is effective immediately.
David was sincere and genuine in acknowledging responsibility for the conduct and in his statement that he had extreme remorse for his conduct
Commenting on the decision, the panel noted, "The respectful and contrite tone of his (Warner’s) responses, as well as the content impressed the Review Panel and led it to the unanimous view that he was sincere and genuine in acknowledging responsibility for the conduct and in his statement that he had extreme remorse for his conduct."
According to the details revealed by CA, Warner had received verbal support from Copeland and Cricket NSW's Hannah Barnes, in addition to written words of support from current Test skipper Pat Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald, ex-Test captain Greg Chappell and former women's skipper and Federation of International Cricketers' Association president Lisa Sthalekar.
Additionally, the panel also received two letters of support from current New Zealand Test batter Kane Williamson who played alongside Warner at Sunrisers Hyderabad, the franchise Warner captained to the Indian Premier League title in 2016.