The Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA), on Tuesday, said that in light of the scathing assessment of the independent review of Cricket Australia, the board must share responsibility for the scandal and called for the bans on Smith, Warner and Bancroft to be lifted immediately.
This demand, coming just ahead of Team India's tour Down Under, has triggered speculations that the trio may be back just in time for the India series.
"With this new information, common sense, common decency, basic fairness, proportionality and natural justice demand that the punishment is reduced," ACA President Greg Dyer told reporters in Melbourne. "The players have already lost time in the game, chances to play for Australia, endured public humiliation and faced massive financial penalties."
India's upcoming tour of Australia is slated to begin from November 21. It's comprised of 3 T20Is followed by a 4-match Test series and a 3-match ODI series. This tour will conclude on January 18.
The CA review by the Sydney-based Ethics Centre accused Cricket Australia of ignoring the spirit of the game, leaving players without moral guidance. The review which was released on Monday that found "arrogant" and "controlling" culture within Cricket Australia contributed to players cheating in the pursuit of victory.
"My message to Cricket Australia is a simple one: These contrite men have been punished enough. Let these contrite men play," Dyer said.
ACA also called for the "urgent" implementation of all 42 recommendations in the 145-page report, which also included complaints from those involved in the sport of a bullying culture in elite men's cricket.
Among the recommendations was an anti-harassment code to stop sledging, and training to improve team leaders' "moral courage".
The team, who have struggled for form in the absence of batting stars Smith and Warner, also released a "players pact" promising to respect the traditions of the game. Similar initiatives in the past, such as the "Spirit of Cricket" charter in 2003, had little impact.