Steve Smith Extends Support To Suspended Nicholas Pooran

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has handed four-match suspension to West Indies player Nicholas Pooran for his role in ball-tampering during the 3rd ODI match against Afghanistan in Lucknow. The swashbuckling batsman admitted breaching level 3 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. Another recipient of ball-tampering, Steve Smith feels Pooran will learn a lot from his mistake.

The West Indies cricketer became the second after Dinesh Chandimal following the infamous Cape Town Test scandal in South Africa in 2018 to be found guilty of the ball-tampering scandal. The apex body acted immediately to hand a four-T20I ban on Nicholas Pooran. Pooran admitted the offence on Tuesday and accepted the sanction proposed by Chris Broad of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees and, as such, there was no need of any formal hearing.

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Steve Smith comes in support of Pooran

Steve Smith, who has been under the firing line for the same mistake believes Nicholas Pooran will learn from here. The former Aussie skipper had to serve a year for his part in the ball-tampering saga. Smith had previously played alongside Pooran for Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League and believes this period will teach the tainted cricketer a lot.

“Everyone is different, every board is different, and the way they deal with certain issues. For me, I copped it on the chin… it is what it is. I know Nicholas, I’ve played a bit of cricket with him and he’s a talented player and someone with a bright future,” Smith said. “I think he’ll learn from his mistake and move past it,” he added.

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Speaking on how the Newlands scandal had influenced him, Steve Smith said he was now far better at recognising where he was at mentally and whether he needed a break from time to time. He also admitted of being tired after a long summer and his mind was not at the right place as he didn’t get sufficient time to rest. Smith; however, is hopeful that he and others will benefit from the painful lessons that followed.

“Of course, I’ll still make mistakes, I’m a human being, we all do. But being able to catch yourself and the way you’re thinking is something I’ve learnt and something I’ll continue to work on and continue and get better at,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Steve Smith made en emphatic return to Test cricket with his consistent exploits during the Ashes 2019 earlier this year. He hogged most of the limelight as went past Virat Kohli to reclaim the top spot in the ICC Test Rankings for batsmen. Smith is currently preparing for his first home Test upon his return when he comes out for the first Test against Pakistan in Brisbane.