Steve Smith called to give up captaincy as probe launched into ball tampering

Agencies
March 25, 2018

Melbourne, Mar 25: Cricket Australia will not rule on Steve Smith's future as captain until it completes a probe into stunning ball-tampering revelations that have plunged the test team in crisis, CEO James Sutherland said on Sunday.

Sutherland's comments came as a shocked nation digested reports from South Africa that Smith and senior players conspired to change the condition of the ball using sticky tape and grit from the pitch during the third Test in Cape Town.

Former players and pundits have called on Smith to step down immediately, describing his position as “untenable”.

Sutherland, however, said the 28-year-old would continue to lead the side while the investigation played out.

“Steve Smith is currently the captain of the Australian team,” Sutherland told reporters in front of a huge media scrum outside the Melbourne offices of Cricket Australia (CA).

“We are working through a process and once we have a clearer picture of the facts and understand things once [CA head of integrity] Iain [Roy] submits his report we will be in a better position to make further comment.”

Smith, who has led the team since 2015 and is the team's best batsman, confessed to reporters in Cape Town on Saturday that the ball-tampering had been orchestrated by himself and senior players.

Opening batsman Cameron Bancroft, the most junior member in the side at 25, was tasked with implementing the plan and was duly caught on camera using the tape.

He has been charged by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which could lead to a one-match ban and a 100% fine of his match fee.

The cost to Australia's reputation is immeasurably higher, however, with former players across the globe branding the team as cheats and fans castigating the players on social media.

Michael Clarke, Smith's predecessor as captain, said the revelations were “disgraceful” and that he had no doubt that the skipper would be “crying in his hotel room”.

“I can't believe the senior players have made a decision to do that,” he told Australian television. “It's disgraceful and it's not accepted by anyone.”

Australian former Test bowler Rodney Hogg said Smith could not continue in his role.

“Unfortunately this is blatant cheating and Steve Smith will have to step down as Australian captain,” Hogg said on Twitter.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan hit out at the decision to use Bancroft to carry out the plan.

“What I find appalling in all this is the youngster got given the job,” he tweeted.

“Was it because someone in the team had been accused of using Hand tape for a similar affect !!!!!!! So they wanted someone else to take the mantle.... Disgraceful behaviour by senior pros.”

Careful wording

Sutherland described it as a “very sad for Australian cricket” and said fans had “every reason to wake up and not be proud of the Australian cricket team”.

However, the long-serving CEO declined to call the ball-tampering “cheating” and steered studiously clear of using the word.

“Look, I think it's pretty clear that ICC match referee has made a charge,” Sutherland said.

“A player [Bancroft] has admitted to that... I'll make a judgment on that in the next couple of days.”

Prominent Australian cricket writer Gideon Haigh dismissed Sutherland's response as one from a “quintessential bureaucrat”.

“It doesn't ring true, it doesn't resonate with the public,” Haigh told local broadcaster ABC.

“We actually expect of Australian cricketers behaviour that we do not expect of players in other [sporting] codes.”

Australian newspapers described the scandal as the worst captaincy crisis since 1981 when skipper Greg Chappell instructed younger brother Trevor to bowl underarm with the last ball in a one-day match against New Zealand to secure a victory.

“What took place at the foot of Table Mountain was dumb and deplorable in equal measure,” wrote Fairfax Media's Chris Barrett.

“In the case of Smith, he should have known better... The mistake may cost him very dearly.”

Former captain Allan Border said it was “a bad look for Australian cricket”.

“Certainly, it will go all the way through to Cricket Australia,” he said commentating on broadcaster Supersport.

“The directors will get involved. It's that serious.”

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News Network
September 20,2024

Udupi: A vigilant Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable, Aparna K T, demonstrated remarkable presence of mind when she rescued a student who slipped while trying to board a moving train at Udupi Railway Station on Friday morning.

The incident occurred as passenger train number 06602 arrived at the station around 7:30 AM. The student, traveling from Mangaluru to Gokarna, had briefly alighted to purchase snacks. However, as the train began moving, she hurried back towards the carriage with the snacks in hand. In her rush, she lost her footing, slipping dangerously between the platform and the moving train.

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Woman constable Aparna K T was given a cash reward of Rs 5000.

 

Constable Aparna, who had been closely monitoring the passengers, immediately sprang into action. “I saw her running towards the train and alerted everyone by blowing my whistle. She slipped, and her legs were caught between the platform and the train. Without hesitation, I pulled her out with the help of others nearby,” she recalled.

Thanks to Aparna’s quick thinking and the swift response of the railway staff, the train was stopped in time. Railway personnel, including the guard and loco pilot, were immediately informed, and they acted promptly to halt the train using both flag signals and a walkie-talkie.

RPF Inspector Madhusoodhanan PV arrived at the scene shortly after to check on the passenger's condition. The shaken but uninjured student was given water and helped back onto the train to safely continue her journey.

In an added measure of care, the RPF post at Bhatkal was notified to follow up on the passenger’s well-being during her journey. The student, fortunately, reached her destination without further incident.

The heroic rescue was captured on CCTV and has since gone viral on social media, earning widespread praise. In recognition of her bravery, Regional Railway Manager (RRM) Karwar awarded Constable Aparna a cash reward of ₹5,000, commending her quick action that averted a potentially tragic accident.

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News Network
September 16,2024

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In a heart-breaking incident, 19-year-old Shaun D'Souza, a native of Vittalwadi in Udupi's Kundapur taluk, tragically lost his life in the UAE due to heat stroke.

Shaun, the beloved son of Elias Cyril D'Souza and Pramila D'Souza, originally from Hosabettu, Moodbidri, had been pursuing his college education in the UAE.

He was admitted to a hospital in Ras Al Khaimah, approximately 115 km from Dubai, after collapsing from heatstroke. Despite receiving immediate medical attention, Shaun breathed his last on Sunday, September 15. 

He is deeply mourned by his parents and two siblings. The family, who had been residing near St. Mary's Church in the UAE, are grappling with the profound loss. Shaun’s father, Elias, works as a manager for a private company, while his mother, Pramila, is an accountant.

The local community has come together to offer their support and condolences in this time of sorrow.

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News Network
September 15,2024

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New Delhi: Two days after he was granted bail and walked out of prison after six months, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced his shock resignation from the top post at a party meeting this afternoon. "Two days later, I will resign as Chief Minister. I will not sit on that chair till the people announce their verdict. Elections in Delhi are months away. I got justice from the legal court, now I will get justice from the people's court. I will sit on the Chief Minister's chair only after the order of the people," he said. 

"I want to ask the people of Delhi, is Kejriwal innocent or guilty? If I have worked, vote for me," he said, adding that a meeting of AAP MLAs will be held within the next two days to choose the new Chief Minister for the national capital.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said a member of the party will be named Chief Minister after his resignation. He said he would go among the people and ask for their support. Mr Kejriwal also demanded that the elections in the national capital, scheduled for February, be held in November along with the polls in Maharashtra.

In his address to the AAP workers, Mr Kejriwal launched an all-out attack against the Narendra Modi government and said it was more dictatorial than the British.

He said he did not resign as Chief Minister despite being arrested because he wanted to save democracy. "They have registered cases against (Karnataka Chief Minister) Siddaramaiah, (Kerala Chief Minister) Pinarayi Vijayan, (Bengal Chief Minister) Mamata didi (Banerjee). I want to appeal to non-BJP, do not resign if they register cases against you. This is their new game," he said.

Mr Kejriwal said he had also spoken to former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia about the issue. Mr Sisodia too was recently granted bail in connection with corruption allegations surrounding Delhi's now-scrapped liquor policy. "I spoke to Manish, he too has said that he will handle the post only after the people say we are honest. My and Sisodia's fate are in your hands now," he said.

Responding to the shocking development, BJP's Harish Khurana questioned why the AAP leader is creating a drama. "Why after 48 hours? he should resign today. In the past too, he has done this. People of Delhi are asking, he can't go to the secretariat, can't sign documents? What is the point then?" Asked if the BJP was ready for early polls, Mr Khurana replied, "We are ready, whether it is today or tomorrow. We will return to power in Delhi after 25 years."

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