Indian batting great and renowned Cricket Pundit –Virender Sehwag has lashed out at the Cricket Australia (CA) for their verdict of imposing a lengthy ban on the players involved in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.

CA banned Steve Smith, David Warner for 12 months and Cameron Bancroft 9 months for their ugly conduct of use a sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball during the third Test in Cape Town.

Commenting on the punishment, Sehwag believes that it was "too harsh" decision taken by CA for an offense like ball-tampering, saying it sounds that a thief has been sent for charges of murder.

Sehwag told India TV during the show 'Cricket Ki Baat', “Many players have been involved in ball-tampering prior to this incident. They have received sanctions from the ICC or even their respective boards but the punishment which Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft have got is a bit harsh in my opinion as no player has ever been banned for 12 months for ball-tampering.”

He further added, “A thief can't be sentenced for murder. So, I feel this was a harsh decision. I think these players could have been spared after the punishment imposed by the ICC. And even if Cricket Australia wanted to punish them further, they could have just extended the ban to 5-6 Test matches.”

Meanwhile, Sehwag also believes that the intervention of the Australian government influenced Cricket Australia's decision, as the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and sports commissioner publically criticized the ball-tampering scandal.

Sehwag signed off by saying, “I think the government in Australia was very active on the entire issue and it definitely influenced Cricket Australia's decision.”