David Warner’s lifetime leadership ban has been lifted by Cricket Australia six years after the 2018 sandpaper scandal, raising the prospect of a captaincy role in this summer’s Big Bash.
Warner, who retired from international cricket last year, fronted a three-member panel earlier this month and lobbied to have his suspension from holding any leadership role in Australian cricket overturned.
“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,” a statement released by panellists Alan Sullivan KC, Jeff Gleeson KC and Jane Seawright on Friday read.
“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.”
Warner raised eyebrows this week with an offer to return to the Australian Test side in this summer’s marquee series against India, though his suggestions of an international comeback have been rebuffed by selectors and Test skipper Pat Cummins.
Warner is on the books of Big Bash League franchise Sydney Thunder and has previously captained the side before his leadership ban was imposed.
More to come.
