Australia opener David Warner has ended his bid to end his permanent leadership ban, citing concern that a review process set up by Cricket Australia would involve a "public trial" of his part in the Newlands ball-tampering scandal.
The former test vice-captain was banned from the elite game for a year and from leadership positions for life, after he was adjudged to have played the leading role in ball-tampering against South Africa in 2018.
Cricket Australia set up an independent process for players and staff to have long-term bans reviewed, allowing Warner to have his life sanction overturned by an independent three-person panel.
On the eve of Australia's second test against the West Indies, Warner says he has withdrawn his application to the review panel, because he was not prepared to subject his family or teammates to "further trauma and disruption".
"Some things are more important than cricket," the 36-year-old wrote on social media. "They want to conduct a public spectacle to, in the panel's words, have a 'cleansing'.
"I am not prepared for my family to be the washing machine for cricket's dirty laundry."
Cricket Australia says it is disappointed with the outcome, but respects Warner's decision.
"Our intention was to give David the opportunity to demonstrate why his lifetime leadership ban should be varied at an independent hearing and we amended our Code of Conduct accordingly," a CA spokesperson said.
"We supported David's wish for these discussions to be heard behind closed doors."
Warner says counsel assisting the review panel had concocted an "irregular procedure", which would turn his case into a public spectacle.
He had requested the panel revisit their procedural decision last week, but the panel has responded with a "dismissive rejection of the substantive matters".
"It appears that the panel... is instead determined to conduct a public lynching," added Warner.
Last month, Warner welcomed the chance to apply to the panel, but also criticised CA for taking months to set up the process.
Warner was one of three Australia players sanctioned during "Sandpapergate".
Warner's teammate and former test captain Steve Smith was also banned for a year and from leadership roles for three years. but captained Australia in the second Ashes test against England in 2021 and will lead the side again against the West Indies, starting Thursday,
Former test batsman Cameron Bancroft was banned for nine months and from leadership roles for an additional year.
Both Smith and Bancroft have spoken publicly about "Sandpaper-gate", but Warner has kept quiet.
With regular test captain Pat Cummins injured, Smith will lead Australia against West Indies at Adelaide Oval.
Reuters
