Time to give space to families of banned Australian cricketers: Sachin Tendulkar

Tendulkar has also said though the players are regretting their mistakes, they will eventually have to pay the price for their actions.

In a tweet, Tendulkar said: "They are regretting and hurting and will have to live with the consequences of their act. Spare a thought for their families as they have much to endure along with the players. Time for all of us to take a step back and give them some space."

Australia captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner have been banned for a 12 month period by Cricket Australia for their attempt to tamper with the ball on the third day of the Cape Town test against South Africa on Wednesday.

Also involved in the cheating case, Cameron Bancroft has been banned for nine months.

Smith have also been banned from captaining Australia for a period of two years and Warner for lifetime.

All players will have the right to challenge their verdicts and also the durarion of their penalties via a CA code of behaviour hearing with an independent commissioner, who can also choose whether the hearing is public or private.

The punishment followed a huge uproar across Australia over the disgrace brought upon the country.

Earlier, ICC had announced one-month ban on them.

However, Smith and Warner will be back in time for the ICC World Cup in England and then the Ashes. Bancroft, meanwhile, returns in time for summer with India to tour Australia at the time.