Smith, Bancroft statements not going to impact Warner reintegration plan: CA

Both Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith have made it clear in interviews recently that the former vice-captain David Warner was the instigator of the ill-fated plan in Cape Town

Despite of the unflattering statements by Australia banned cricketers Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith, Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts on Thursday said they have no plans of dumping David Warner despite unflattering statements by his two teammates. Smith, Warner and Bancroft were involved in the ball-tampering scandal earlier this year.

Both Bancroft and Smith have made it clear in interviews recently that David Warner was the instigator of the ill-fated plan in Cape Town. While Smith and Warner's bans will end on March 30, 2019, Bancroft's nine-month suspension will end this year in December.

Some ex-players have interpreted these comments as effectively making Warner the fall guy with Michael Slater saying that it would be difficult for him to return to the team.

But Roberts denied then skipper Smith and Bancroft's statements would affect Warner's chance of being brought back into the Australian fold.

"I don't know if it does (make it harder for Warner). Our focus is to work with Dave, who I spoke to about three days ago, on his integration plan when he is eligible for selection again," Roberts told 'SEN sports radio'.

 "Our focus is on how we pro-actively look forward and work with the players, rather than be concerned with what has happened in the past."

Roberts said the timing of the interviews wasn't ideal, given that they have overshadowed the crucial third Test against India with the series tied 1-1, according to the radio station.

He also said nothing new came out of the interviews of Smith and Bancroft, given an investigation had previously pointed to Warner as the mastermind and he had admitted responsibility for his part.

Smith had said former CA CEO James Sutherland and high performance boss Pat Howard told the team they were being paid to win, not to play.

On this, Roberts said, "Our goal will always to be to win, let's make no mistake, but our non-negotiable expectation is that we compete with honour." 

Smith had sought to distance himself from the plot to rough up the ball by sandpaper in a Test against South Africa in Cape Town while admitting he failed as a captain by turning a blind eye.

Bancroft, on his part, said Wednesday that he committed the offence on the insistence of Warner and he did it to "fit in" and feel "valued" in the team". 

Warner, currently serving a 12-month ban for his involvement in the infamous ball-tampering saga in Cape Town in March this year, will be playing his third big tournament (Bangladesh Premier League) for franchise Sylhet Sixers for the upcoming season starting on January 5, after appearing in the Global T20 in Canada and the Caribbean Premier League in the West Indies.