David Warner and Steve Smith facing IPL ban: official

A Board for Control of Cricket India official has declared they will push to ban Steve Smith and Dave Warner from the IPL.

David Warner in action for Sunrisers Hyderabad where he has stood down as captain

India’s highest cricketing authority has said it will seek to ban disgraced Australian cricketers Steve Smith and David Warner from this year’s Indian Premier League series, regardless of whether their 12-month bans include an exemption from playing in domestic Twenty20 leagues.

An official with the Board for Control of Cricket India (BCCI) told The Australian it was not yet clear whether the suspension allowed the two men to play for other leagues, but “we will be pushing for banning them from IPL as well”.

The duo’s stunning fall from grace continues apace with Cricket Australia announcing one-year bans for the pair for their roles in the ball-tampering saga, while Cameron Bancroft, who was caught by cameras putting the team in a sticky position, recieivng a nine-month ban.

Warner had earlier lost personal sponsor LG and stood down as captain of IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Warner, whose relationship with teammates has hit rock bottom in recent days, may never play for his country again.

It is possible he could be frozen out of the national set-up once the suspension expires, a la Kevin Pietersen’s messy divorce from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Warner’s talent is immense but many teammates view him as a divisive and negative influence.

Members of the touring party were shocked to see their vice-captain drinking champagne at the team hotel on Monday, when CA’s integrity chief Iain Roy grilled players over an illegal plan to scuff the ball in Cape Town. Warner kept his distance when the touring party ran the media gauntlet at Johannesburg airport, trudging into arrivals flanked only by stand-in skipper Tim Paine.

It was only a month ago when Warner was the toast of Australian cricket, earning plaudits from teammates and coaches for the way he led the side to Twenty20 tri- series success in New Zealand.

Warner is a genuine rock star in India and had initially been confident of retaining his lucrative leadership post with Hyderabad, who he led to the IPL title in 2016.

“In light of recent events, David Warner has stepped down as captain,” Sunrisers chief executive K.Shanmugam said.

CA chief James Sutherland had earlier flagged tere may be issues for the pair when it came to their roles in the lucrative league.

“If there are significant suspensions that flow from this I guess that will ultimately be a matter for the BCCI and the IPL,” Sutherland said.

Sutherland wouldn’t be drawn on whether Warner would be welcome in the Australian dressing room again.

With AAP