David Warner who has been banned from leading any team in Australia due to the sandpaper incident in 2018 has been lifted by Cricket Australia.
This means he is eligible to lead the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League 2024. This comes after Warner presented his case to a three-member independent panel earlier this month.
The review panel, comprising Alan Sullivan KC, Jeff Gleeson KC and Jane Seawright unanimously agreed that Warner had met the necessary criteria for his 2018 leadership ban to be lifted.
“The respectful and contrite tone of his 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,” the panel stated.
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David Warner has made a successful review of his lifetime leadership ban #BBL14— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 24, 2024
“Mr Warner’s conduct and behaviour since the imposition of the sanction has been excellent and he appears to have made a substantial change, one example of which is that he no longer sledges or tries to provoke the opposing team.
“The Review Panel is more than satisfied that Mr Warner will not engage in any conduct similar to that which occurred in 2018 which resulted in the sanction and that the sanction has thus had the relevant quality of specific deterrence.”
The ban was imposed during the ball-tampering incident in Cape Town, Warner who was vice-captain at the time, was identified as the brain behind the plan and was given a lifetime ban from leadership along with a one-year ban from cricket.
Steve Smith who was the captain was also handed a captaincy ban for 12 months, while Cameron Bancroft was banned for nine months.
Warner has appealed against the leadership ban but retracted it in 2022, expressing his disappointment over how the enquiry was being conducted.
After that, he announced his retirement from all formats in international cricket, with the 2024 T20 World Cup being his last appearance for Australia.
“In 2022 we updated the Code of Conduct to ensure there was a fair and rigorous process in place for all players and player support personnel to have long-term sanctions reviewed,” Nick Hockley.
“I am pleased David has chosen to have his sanction reviewed and that he will be eligible to take up leadership positions in Australian Cricket this summer.”
Warner was accompanied by Trent Copeland, the manager of Sydney Thunder and also a teammate of the cricketer from NSW and Australia playing days.
The panel received references from current Test captain Pat Cummins and head coach Andrew McDonald, former captain Greg Chappell, and Lisa Sthalekar, the former women’s team skipper and president of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Association.
The three-member committee also received letters of support from New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, who played alongside Warner at Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League.
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