David Warner has lashed out at the slowness of Cricket Australia’s process of allowing him to apply to have his lifetime leadership ban reviewed, describing the proceedings as traumatic and disappointing.
The dynamic opener and former Test vice-captain was banned from any leadership role in Australia over his part in the Cape Town ball-tampering affair in 2018.
But on Monday, CA announced that it amended its code of conduct which previously stated that players do not have the right to have a sanction reviewed once it has been accepted. And now Warner will be able to request a review of the sanction, a move previously not permitted.
The code of conduct changes began nine months ago and Warner expressed his frustration at how long it has taken.
Speaking at a promotion event for Kayo Sports on Monday, Warner vented his frustration.
He said: "It's been drawn out, it's traumatic for me and my family and everyone else involved in it. I think it's just about being fair that at the end of the day, I'm not a criminal. You should get a right of appeal at some stage, you know.
I understand that they put a ban in place, but banning someone for life I think is a bit harsh. So it's just an opportunity to come out and actually, you know, show that I'm actually remorseful. I've done my time to get back into the Australian cricket setup."
"Where it's been disappointing, it's taken this long to get to where it has. It was brought up in I think February this year. So it's been drawn out. It's traumatic for me and my family and everyone else that was involved in it. We haven't needed to go back into that detail. We don't need to relive what happened," he added.
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Under the new rule, a player must show that "exceptional circumstances exist to justify modifying a sanction", including demonstrating remorse and evidence of improved behavior. CA said the policy "acknowledges that players and player support personnel are capable of genuine reform or rehabilitation".
"It's frustrating because we could have done this about nine months ago when it was first brought up. It's unfortunate that obviously Finchy retired and then they sort of fast-tracked it in their own way. But it's a tad disappointing that when you make a decision in 2018, it's in four days, and then this takes nine months.
So that's the hardest thing. It actually makes me look like I'm campaigning, which I'm totally not. So from my perspective, that's where it's been disappointing. But it's good to get in a position where we are now today. And it gives me an opportunity to ring up the integrity unit to therefore have a word to them and put forward my case of I guess, the 100 hours [of community service] that I did in 2018 for what happened. Basically, all this good behavior stuff that I've done, I think I have to put forward so I'm happy to do that,” Warner added.
Warner, 36, has been keen on returning to a leadership role having captained in the IPL since his CA leadership ban and the current Australian selection panel has been eager to get Warner's situation resolved as they look to broaden their leadership options, particularly in limited overs cricket.
(ESPNCricinfo/ AFP inputs)
