Will take decision in coming one-two days on Smith, Warner, says IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla

Rajeev Shukla, chairman of Indian Premier League (IPL), on Sunday said that a decision on whether Steve Smith and David Warner should play in the upcoming league or not will be taken in one-two days.

Shukla said that IPL board will wait for the decision of the International Cricket Council (ICC) before deciding whether Smith and Warner can play or not for their respective IPL franchises.

Smith is named the captain of Rajasthan Royals, while Warner is named the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad. Shukla took to Twitter to announce the news regarding both the Australian players. He tweeted “On ball tampering issue, Ipl will wait for the decision of ICC and will act accordingly.”

On ball tampering issue, Ipl will wait for the decision of ICC and will act accordingly

— Rajeev Shukla (@ShuklaRajiv) March 25, 2018

Shukla also said that the decision will be taken within a day or two and will not be delayed but taking a decision today won’t be right. He added that discussions are being held with the concerned authorities.

Also Read: Australia removes Steve Smith, David Warner as captain, vice-captain over ball-tampering row

This is a matter of serious concern for all of us. We are waiting for decision of ICC&Cricket Australia before taking any step: IPL chairman on Steve Smith & David Warner stepping down as Captain&Vice-Captain of Australia respectively for remainder of Test match with South Africa pic.twitter.com/ArCrdS6hwu

— ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2018

Matches will start on 7th April & we will take decision before that, in coming 1-2 days. Announcing a decision today won't be right. We are holding discussions with those concerned: IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla on Steve Smith & David Warner pic.twitter.com/w60It5Y4p8

— ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2018

The Australian Cricket Board had already sacked Steve Smith as the captain and David Warner as the Vice-Captain of the team for the remainder of Cape Town Test for ball-tampering confession.

Cricket Australia issued a statement saying, “Following discussions with Steve Smith and David Warner they have agreed to stand down as Captain and Vice-Captain respectively for the remainder of this Test match. This Test match needs to proceed, and in the interim we will continue to investigate this matter with the urgency that it demands.”

Read full statement issued by Cricket Australia here

The ball tampering issue arised when Australian opener Cameron Bancroft was caught rubbing the ball on Saturday using a “yellow tape” to help bowlers with reverse swing. To this, the team’s captain Steve Smith, later admitted that he was also involved in the cheating and tampering but refused to step down.

Smith said, “We spoke about it at Lunch and I’m not proud of it. It’s not within the spirit of the game, my integrity or the team’s integrity, the leadership group’s integrity has all come to question and rightly so. It’s not on and it certainly won’t happen again I can promise you that.”