Former West Indies skipper Darren Sammy has criticised recent media coverage surrounding Steve Smith ahead of the Australian’s comeback to cricket on Friday. Smith will play for the Toronto Nationals in the opening game of the Global T20 Canada league, his first competitive match since he was handed a 12-month ban by Cricket Australia for his role in the South African ball-tampering saga.
The 29-year-old was this week photographed in New York City en route to Canada, with an accompanying article drawing criticism online for describing Smith as looking “forlorn” as he enjoyed a beer in a Manhattan bar.
“That’s not called for,” Sammy said about the New York article. “You’ve made your point.
“I think, as sportsmen, we want to do the right things, set the example for the next generation.
“We will make mistakes, but it doesn’t mean you’ve got to keep kicking a man when he’s down. That’s not the humane way to do things, and I think there’s a right to punish but there’s also a right to forgive and move on.
