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MONDAY, MARCH 26, 2018

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CAPE TOWN: Australian batsman (C) plays a shot during the fourth day of the third Test match between and at Newlands cricket ground yesterday in Cape Town. —AFP Aussie PM blasts ball-tampering ICC bans Smith for one match

CAPE TOWN: ’s future as Australia captain caught on television on Saturday’s third day, first rubbing a the captaincy but CA will be under heavy pressure to act was thrown into doubt after he was banned for one match piece of yellow sticky tape on the ball and then trying to decisively to bring an end to this unsavoury incident. CA’s after admitting responsibility for the ball-tampering scan- hide the evidence down his trousers. The 25-year-old was head of integrity Iain Roy and head of team performance dal that marred the ongoing Test against South Africa. hit by three demerit points, fined 75 percent of his match Pat Howard were flying to South Africa to conduct an Smith agreed to step down temporarily from his role fee and warned over his role. investigation. Condemnation of Smith and his team has ahead of yesterday’s fourth day of play in Cape Town but come from all quarters, and not just about the ball-tamper- nonetheless came under fire from all sides, including ‘UNFAIR ADVANTAGE’ ing. England pace bowler Stuart Broad branded the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. “To carry a foreign object on to the field of play with Australians hypocrites after Australian coach Darren “We all woke up this morning shocked and bitterly dis- the intention of changing the condition of the ball to gain Lehman complained about his players receiving abuse appointed by the news from South Africa,” Turnbull told an unfair advantage over your opponent is against not only from some South African fans. reporters. “It seemed completely beyond belief that the the laws, but the spirit of the game as well,” said ICC ref- Pointing to the abuse England received from Australian Australian cricket team had been involved in cheating.” ereeing chief Andy Pycroft. Wicketkeeper led supporters during the recent Ashes series, Broad said: Smith will miss the fourth and final Test against South the Australian team onto the Newlands field to muted jeers “Just from the outside, it looks like Australia have started a Africa due to his ban and was also fined his entire match from the crowd on Sunday after Smith and vice-captain lot of fights but then moan when someone comes back.” fee for his leading role in attempting to “change the condi- David Warner had agreed to step down from their roles for Steve Smith tion of the ball in order to gain an unfair advantage” on the rest of the Test. Smith, Warner and Bancroft were then ‘NOT PROUD’ Saturday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a loudly booed by fans during Australia’s second . Smith admitted on Saturday to having committed “a big statement yesterday. (CA) chief James Sutherland had mistake” and took responsibility for Bancroft’s actions, Australia had been hoping glue from the yellow tape “The decision made by the leadership group of the issued an apology to fans earlier yesterday. “To our admitting he was involved in planning the sly move. “I’m would stick to the ball and in turn pick up “granules”, per- Australian team to act in this way is clearly contrary to the Australian cricket fans, we are sorry,” said Sutherland. not proud of what happened. It’s not in the spirit of the haps allowing their bowlers to get more swing from the spirit of the game, risks causing significant damage to the “This behaviour calls into question the integrity of the game,” he had said. Smith, though, insisted that Lehmann ball. Despite Bancroft’s actions being shown on big integrity of the match, the players and the sport itself and team and Cricket Australia.” Smith and his team-mates was not part of the conspiracy, even though footage screens around the ground, the umpires took no action. is therefore ‘serious’ in nature,” said ICC chief executive had come under heavy fire from Australian fans on social appeared to show the coach sending a message onto the South African team manager Mohammed Moosajee David Richardson. media, notably. “We know how you feel and have heard field with 12th man after the first footage said the umpires should have changed the ball. “As captain, Steve Smith must take full responsibility for your feedback loud and clear. We share your anger and of the incident. “From my understanding of the rules, if there was evi- the actions of his players and it is appropriate that he be disappointment,” added Sutherland. Bancroft, 25, said: “I was in the wrong place at the dence for everyone to see, they should have changed the suspended.” Opening batsman was Smith had insisted on Saturday he wouldn’t resign from wrong time. I want to be accountable for my actions.” ball and awarded a five- penalty,” he said.—AFP

“It’s been a horrible 24 hours-I want apologise were booed as they left the but the near- Australia’s day to our fans and those back home,” said stand-in capacity crowd’s jeers grew in volume when skipper Tim Paine. The Australians had already Smith walked out-and there were more boos woken to bruising criticism from their own chief after he was caught at gully off Morkel for seven. of shame ends in executive and prime minister, as well as condem- It was Smith’s last appearance in the series Cameroon beat nation from around the cricket world. after being banned for one match for his role in 322-run rout It followed the admission by Smith and the scandal, which means he will miss the fourth Kuwait 3-1 young batsman Cameron Bancroft that they had and final Test in Johannesburg, starting on Friday. deliberately tried to change the condition of the During Smith’s short stay at the wicket, two ball on Saturday. The day seldom got any bet- fell off successive balls from left-arm KUWAIT: Kuwait national football team lost to Cameroon 3-1 in CAPE TOWN: Australian cricket’s day of shame ter. Tim Paine and his bowlers could not stop spinner Keshav Maharaj, with an international friendly held at Jaber International Stadium in ended in a crushing 322-run defeat by South South Africa from taking their second innings caught at slip off a ball that went straight on and Kuwait yesterday. The first half ended with Cameroon leading by Africa on the fourth day of the third Test at total to 373. prodding one which turned and 2-0, and Kuwait’s attempts on the Cameroonian goalkeeper were Newlands yesterday. Set an unlikely 430 to win, Embattled opening batsmen Bancroft and bounced out of the rough to short leg. fruitless. Australia were bowled out for a paltry 107, with Warner weathered a challenging 70 minutes The collapse continued when Yusuf Nasser succeeded in getting the ball from the fast bowler Morne Morkel taking five for 23. before tea at the start of their second innings and fell to successive short-pitched Cameroonian defender and pass it to Yaqoub Al-Tararwa who It was a fittingly dismal end to the match for before the run-out of Bancroft sparked a col- balls from Morkel. was hit on the scored Kuwait’s sole goal in the second half. Cameroon then Australia after they were caught up in a ball-tam- lapse in which all ten wickets fell for just 50 runs helmet by another from Morkel. Two added their third goal to finish the clash in their favor. Before the pering scandal on Saturday which sent shock- in 19.3 overs and 99 minutes. balls after a lengthy delay he gloved another encounter, former Arabi club and national team goalkeeper waves through the sport. Bancroft fell to a direct hit from midwicket by lifter to short leg. was with- Ahmad Jassem was honored for his service in and off the field. Skipper Steve Smith was subsequently banned South African captain after being out facing a ball as Paine tried to keep the strike The honoring ceremony was attended by Minister of for one match by the ICC, just hours after he and called for a risky single by Warner. Three overs and was caught at third man to Commerce and Industry, Minister of State for Youth Khaled Al- vice-captain David Warner had stood down from later Warner edged to AB de end one of the most humiliating episodes in Roudhan. — KUNA their positions for the remainder of the match. Villiers at third slip. Both Bancroft and Warner Australia’s cricket history. — AFP