Ball-tampering: Australian skipper Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner resign
Cape Town, Mar 25 (IBNS): In a major development in the world of cricket, Australian skipper Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner have stepped down from their positions.
The cricketers resigned amid allegations that they were involved in a ball tampering case.
In a statement, Cricket Australia said wicketkeeper Tim Paine will act as captain at Newlands, with both Smith and Warner taking the field on Sunday.
Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland was quoted as saying by the Cricket Australia website: "Following discussions with Steve Smith and David Warner they have agreed to stand down as Captain and Vice-Captain respectively for the remainder of this Test match."
He said the mater will be investigated.
"This Test match needs to proceed, and in the interim we will continue to investigate this matter with the urgency that it demands," he said.
"As I said earlier today, Cricket Australia and Australian cricket fans expect certain standards of conduct from cricketers representing our country, and on this occasion these standards have not been met," he said.
CA chairman David Peever also confirmed that the board picked up Paine as the interim captain of Australian Test side.
"The Board of Cricket Australia has endorsed Tim Paine to step in as Acting Captain for the remainder of this Test," Peever was quoted as saying in a CA statement.
The alleged ball-tempering incident occurred on the third day of the third Test in Cape Town.
Th four-match Test series is currently leveled 1-1.
Television footage showed Bancroft take what he said was yellow tape out of his trouser pocket before rubbing the ball, BBC reported.
Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull has said he is shocked after knowing about the entire episode.
"I am shocked and bitterly disappointed by the news from South Africa," Turnbull was quoted as saying by BBC.
Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen reacted to the entire episode and tweeted: " Slept on it...Lehmann, Saker & the leaderships groups jobs are untenable! They’ve disgraced a great cricketing nation & Test cricket!."
Slept on it...Lehmann, Saker & the leaderships groups jobs are untenable!
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) March 25, 2018
They’ve disgraced a great cricketing nation & Test cricket!
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