<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>331741</docID> <postdate>2024-10-25 10:20:18</postdate> <headline>Cricket Australia lifts Warner’s leadership ban</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-331742" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20240219001904735798-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="601" /></p> <caption>David Warner's leadership ban for his involvement in "Sandpapergate" has been discarded. (Marty Melville/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Jasper Bruce</strong> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>Cricket Australia (CA) has scrapped the lifetime leadership ban on David Warner that was controversially handed down in the wake of the Newlands ball-tampering incident.</strong></p> <p>An independent three-member review panel unanimously determined Warner met the criteria to have his ban overturned after the former Test opener lodged an appeal with CA.</p> <p>This week, the panel found Warner was genuinely contrite in taking responsibility for the 2018 "Sandpapergate" saga, of which he was considered the architect.</p> <p>It also gave weight to Warner's track record mentoring the next generation of cricketers, and his role fostering interest in the game amongst Australia's South Asian communities.</p> <p>The decision scraps the last remaining sanction left over from the chain of events in South Africa and paves the way for Warner to hold a formal leadership role with the BBL's Sydney Thunder this summer.</p> <p>Warner had considered lodging an appeal to have his ban overturned in late 2022 after CA changed its code of conduct to allow players to appeal long-term sanctions.</p> <p>But Warner ultimately opted not to persist with the appeal, worried revisiting the incidents of the 2018 ball-tampering saga would open up old wounds.</p> <p>CA chief executive Nick Hockley expressed his disappointment with Warner's decision at the time, and was glad he followed through this time.</p> <p>"I am pleased David has chosen to have his sanction reviewed and that he will be eligible to take up leadership positions in Australian Cricket this summer," Hockley said.</p> </body>