Steve Smith has come under heavy fire from all quarters for his role in the ball-tampering scandal that has shook world cricket. World’s best test batsman broke down while addressing the media on Thursday, accepting full responsibility for the controversy that has resulted in a one-year ban for both him and his deputy David Warner and a nine-month ban for Cameron Bancroft. Following Smith’s emotional press conference, Indian cricketers Ravichandran Ashwin and Gautam Gambhir jumped to the Australian’s defence.
Gambhir backed Smith by saying that the Australian skipper made a mistake but was definitely not a cheat.
“I may be getting emotional but @stevesmith49 doesn’t look to me a cheat. Don’t know about u but I see in him a desperate leader trying to win a Test match for his country, his team. Yes, indeed, his methods were questionable but let’s not label him corrupt #BallTamperingScandal” Gambhir Wrote.
Ashwin too took to the social media platform and made a passionate plea for all the three Australian cricketers involved in the ball-tampering saga.
“The world simply wants to see you cry, once you have cried they will feel satisfied and live happily ever after. If only Empathy was not just a Word and people still had it. God give @stevesmith49 and Bancroft all the strength to come out of this🙏” Ashwin Wrote on his twitter handle.
Smith and Warner was on Wednesday banned from cricket for 12 months. Bancroft was slapped with nine months ban by Cricket Australia.
