India’s cricket stars shocked at Smith punishment

NEW DELHI: India’s star cricketers have been astounded at the treatment meted out to former Australian captain Steve Smith that left him tearfully apologising for cheating in a Test match.

The cricket establishment in India, the sport’s financial powerhouse, has avoided any public comment about the scandal engulfing Australia. “Fears run deep about any potential changes to the game that earns so much,” said one official.

The one-year bans against Smith and teammate David Warner, which rule them out of the Indian Premier League, are unlikely to stop the cash flowing into the world’s richest tournament. Both will miss a $1.9 million salary in the seven-week event, which starts April 7.

But top players have expressed amazement at events in South Africa as well as the onslaught in Australia against Smith, batsman Cameron Bancroft and David Warner, after Australia were caught red-handed tampering with the ball.

Harbhajan Singh, one of the leading spinner wicket takers in international cricket, called the ban against Smith “ridiculous”.“At some point in time, all international teams must have done things to get the ball to reverse. It’s not a crime like match-fixing, but at the same time, they are trying to change the nature of the game,” Singh, now playing in the Indian Premier League for Chennai Superkings, said.