David Warner Open To Have Discussions With Cricket Australia To Get Lifetime Captaincy Ban Overturned

David Warner said that it is upon the apex board to "open their doors" and discuss overturning his ban. He said he is looking forward to having an "honest conversation" with Cricket Australia.

Sydney: Australian cricket team's senior opener David Warner expressed his opinion on Cricket Australia's lifetime captaincy ban on him. After signing a two-year deal with Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL), Warner, during a press conference, said that it is upon the apex board to "open their doors" and discuss overturning his ban. Warner said he is looking forward to having an "honest conversation" with Cricket Australia. The star batter was found guilty of ball-tampering in South Africa in 2018. The other two Australian players who were named in the infamous scandal were Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft. Warner was sentenced to a lifetime captaincy ban for his involvement in this incident, while Steve Smith was banned from any captaincy post for only two years.

However, several former and current players, including Test skipper Pat Cummins, have called for Warner's life ban to end.

"That hasn't really been brought to the table," Warner was quoted saying by ESPNCricinfo.

"As I've said plenty of times off the record, it's upon the board to reach out to me and open their doors. Then I can sit down and have an honest conversation with them," he added.

Warner, Smith and batter Cameron Bancroft were banned from playing domestic or international cricket as punishment for their roles in the infamous ball-tampering scandal.

Warner and Smith had been banned for one year, while Bancroft was suspended for nine months.

The 35-year-old Warner will feature in the Big Bash League for the first time since 2013 after signing a two-year deal with the Sydney Thunder.

The captaincy spot is open at Sydney Thunder after their former skipper Usman Khawaja moved to Brisbane Heat. However, Warner said he can be leader without having the title.

"I've got the experience, I'm a leader in the side anyway without having a title," he said.

"That's what I'm about, giving back, so if they (younger players) can pick my brains in any way, my phone is always there, they have my number, and they can see me when I'm at the practice facilities," he said. 

(With PTI Inputs)