On Friday, the Cricket Australia (CA) has officially lifted the lifetime leadership ban on former opener David Warner, allowing him to take on leadership roles within the national cricket setup effective immediately.
The decision follows a thorough review by an independent three-member panel, which concluded that Warner had satisfactorily met the criteria to have the ban lifted.
Warner submitted an application in 2022 to reconsider the sanctions imposed in 2018, which stemmed from the infamous sandpaper scandal in Cape Town, initiating this review process.
The hearing, which took place earlier this month, featured character references from prominent figures in the cricket community, including current Australia Test captain Pat Cummins, head coach Andrew McDonald, New Zealand batter Kane Williamson, former cricketer Greg Chappell, and Lisa Sthalekar, the former women’s captain and current President of the World Cricketers’ Association.
The panel, comprising Alan Sullivan KC, Jeff Gleeson KC, and Jane Seawright, unanimously agreed that Warner had demonstrated sufficient remorse and accountability for his past actions.
They noted that the original ban, imposed six and a half years ago, had fulfilled its intended purpose.
“The respectful and contrite tone of his (Warner’s) responses, as well as the content, impressed the Review Panel and led it to the unanimous view that he was sincere and genuine in acknowledging responsibility for the conduct and in his statement that he had extreme remorse for his conduct,” the panel further stated.
The panel also reviewed references highlighting Warner’s contributions to the development of young cricketers in Australia and his potential future impact if given the opportunity to lead them. They noted his important ongoing role in fostering interest in cricket, particularly within the South Asian community in Australia.
With this ruling, Warner is now eligible to captain the Sydney Thunder in the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season.
Trent Copeland, the general manager of Sydney Thunder and a longtime teammate, supported him at the hearing.
Nick Hockley, Chief Executive of Cricket Australia, expressed satisfaction with the review process, stating, “In 2022 we updated the Code of Conduct to ensure there was a fair and rigorous process in place for all players and player support personnel to have long-term sanctions reviewed. I am pleased David has chosen to have his sanction reviewed and that he will be eligible to take up leadership positions in Australian Cricket this summer.”
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