Cricket Australia lifts leadership ban on David Warner, can captain Sydney Thunder in BBL 2024/25

David Warner was given a lifetime leadership ban for his involvement in the sandpaper incident in 2018.

Former Australia opener David Warner’s lifetime leadership ban has been lifted by Cricket Australia (CA) after a review by the board’s Conduct Commission.

A three-member panel unanimously decided that Warner had met the necessary criteria to have the ban overturned.

This means that now he can take up captaincy roles in Australia. Though he has retired from international cricket, the left-hander can lead sides in domestic cricket and the upcoming BBL 2024/25 season, where he will play for Sydney Thunder.

In 2018, Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft were involved in the infamous ‘Sandpaper Gate’ incident and were found guilty of ball-tampering during the Cape Town test in 2018. Warner and Smith received a ban of one year from all cricket. And while Smith got a one-year ban on leadership roles, Warner’s was for a lifetime.

CA said in its statement, “In its decision the panel noted ‘the respectful and contrite tone of his [Warner’s] responses, as well as the content impressed the Review Panel and led it to the unanimous view that he was sincere and genuine in acknowledging responsibility for the conduct and in his statement that he had extreme remorse for his conduct’.

“The panel also considered references citing ‘the contribution that Mr Warner has made, and can make in the future, towards the development of young cricketers in Australia if they were given the opportunity to be led by Mr Warner, his important continuing role in fostering interest in cricket especially with the South Asian community in Australia and generally’.”

Will David Warner lead Sydney Thunder in BBL 2024-25?

Thunder’s general manager Trent Copeland has hinted that Warner is set to get the captaincy for the upcoming BBL season.

Copeland said, “The fact he can be on the table as a captaincy option is definitely going to be spoken about. Internally, the chats have already happened in terms of assessing if that will be a good decision. I think that’s a no-brainer. Everyone who knows Davey and has watched him over the years has seen him be a great captain and leader, particularly with the bat in hand.”

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