Australian cricket great Greg Chappell has called for David Warner’s lifetime leadership ban to be scrapped by Cricket Australia.
Chappell’s declaration comes on the back of a Herald Sun report stating the “odds are in favour” of the ban being lifted.
CA powerbrokers are reportedly considering adding a clause into its code of conduct that would allow long-term sanctions to be reviewed on the basis of good behaviour. It could see Warner - who was handed a lifetime leadership ban for his role in Sandpapergate - potentially return to a leadership role in the future.
As it stands, once a punishment is accepted by the player at fault it cannot be challenged.
CA are now in the midst of proposing an amendment to the code that would allow a player to potentially earn a repireve if they had undergone “genuine reform relevant to the offence they were sanctioned for”.
A CA statement - per Fox Sports - reads: “It was agreed that should an amendment in respect to long-term sanctions be adopted, any review of a penalty would be heard by an independent Code of Conduct Commission.”
It has Chappell – who captained 48 Tests for Australia – agreeing the time is right to allow Warner back into the leadership fold.
“I think it is,” Chappell responded on SEN's Mornings when asked whether it was time to leave the ban in the past.
“I don’t think there should be different levels of punishment for people who were involved in the same incident. I think it’s time to forgive and forget.
“Everyone deserves a second chance, Davey has paid his penance. He’s a very good leader, he’s done it in the IPL and showed he’s gone a very good understanding of the strategic side of the game and he’s got a real passion for presenting his country.
“I would certainly be overturning that decision.”
Warner has been selected for the T20 World Cup which starts this month and the 35-year-old is in career-best form in the shortest format of the game.
With fellow opener Aaron Finch retiring, there’s the distinct possibility Warner could be a national captaincy option in the short term.
Warner is also returning for BBL|12 and according to the Herald Sun, the Sydney Thunder wants Warner as a captaincy option.