Cricket Australia (CA) is discussing plans on resting David Warner and Pat Cummins for the upcoming white-ball series against West Indies citing family reasons. As per the reports of Sydney Morning Herald, if both players get rested from the tour, it will give enough time for the players to get over the discontent they’re feeling for Warner that has been stirred up by Cameron Bancroft’s comments on Sandpaper Gate.
Both Cummins and Warner have been named in Australia’s 23-member preliminary squad for the upcoming limited-overs tour to West Indies comprising of five T20Is and three ODIs against West Indies. However, CA is talking about giving these two some time off to give them the opportunity to spend time with their family.
ALSO READ: India women to play their maiden pink-ball Test in Australia, confirms Jay Shah
Recently Warner’s managed hames Erskine has said that the Sandpaper Gate was handled badly and eventually the truth will come out which has the Australian players uneasy. Earlier, he had intimated that Warner would reveal the details of Sandpaper Gate in a book after he retires, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald.
Earlier, Bancroft had given an interview to the UK daily, The Guardian where he had hinted that all the four bowlers were aware of the ball-tampering that took place in the Cape Town Test 2018 had knowledge about the ball being tampered with.
Earlier, Cricket Australia’s Integrity team had reached out to Bancroft to see if he has more information to give on the issue.
He replied in a conciliatory manner and also indicated that he did not have significant new information to share with the board. He told Cricket Australia that he is supportive of the investigation and satisfied with the outcome. As a result, the matter is now unlikely to escalate.
ALSO READ: Rahul Dravid Named As India’s Coach For The Sri Lanka Tour
In March 2018, Bancroft was caught on camera trying to change the condition of the ball using sandpaper in a Test match against South Africa in Cape Town. The incident later went on to be labeled as the ‘Sandpaper Gate’ and is considered as one of the darkest moments in the history of Australian cricket.
