Cricket Australia board to discuss amending code of ethics which would allow for David Warner’s leadership ban to be overturned
Former vice captain of the Australian cricket team David Warner could have his lifetime leadership ban overturned as Cricket Australia looks to review its code of ethics.
Cricket Australia’s directors will meet in Hobart on Friday for a board meeting where they will consider putting plans in place to renege on the controversial ban.
Warner was banned from any leadership role in 2018 in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa which also saw then-captain Steve Smith banned from the captaincy for two years and both suspended from playing at the elite level for 12 months.
The current Cricket Australia rules state players who have been sanctioned under the code of ethics waive the right to have their matter reviewed meaning the code would have to be rewritten for his ban to be reconsidered.
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Chair of the Cricket Australia board Lachlan Henderson said Warner’s record on the field and the improvements in his image off the field has made a compelling case for the ban to be reviewed.
“The view within Cricket Australia is that David is doing particularly well on the field and making a great contribution off the field,” chairman Lachlan Henderson said.
“I think the first step is to review the code because that applies to all sanctions, not just in relation to David Warner and clearly that’s a point of interest for everyone at the moment but it’s a broader review of the code and that will be applied to David should the review make some changes.”
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley added Warner’s impressive turnaround since the 2018 incident was an example of where players could prove they are worthy of a review in the future.
“In very simple terms, we are looking at sanctions to be reviewed for good behaviour and growth after a period of time,” Mr Hockley said.
“Pending tomorrow’s discussion, there would then need to be a revision of the code and that would need to be approved by the board.”
Australia’s one-day captaincy has been vacant since Aaron Finch stepped down from the role when he retired with a replacement needed before the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Warner is currently approaching his 100th T20I and Test Match and has played 138 ODIs for Australia and despite being 35 years old he would be a highly fancied candidate for the ODI captaincy should the ban be overturned.
Mr Henderson said if the board voted in favour of rewriting the code of ethics there would be no delay in allowing Warner to be put forward for the vacant leadership role.
“Our intention is to review the code as quickly as is practical. It’s not in anyone’s interest for us to delay that,” Mr Henderson said.
“It would be in time for any future leadership conversations in relation to David.”
Warner’s return to the Big Bash League for the Sydney Thunder has also brought the lifetime ban into the spotlight with the franchise hoping its star player will be able to lead the team.
