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More Cricket Australia execs out over tamper turmoil
SYDNEY, Nov 7, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – The exodus at Cricket Australia grew
Wednesday as two more top executives quit the embattled governing body after
a ball-tampering scandal and a scathing review triggered an outcry.
Team performance boss Pat Howard, who was due to leave next year, has
brought forward his departure to next week, while broadcasting chief Ben
Amarfio left on Wednesday, Cricket Australia said.
The latest departures come after chairman David Peever was forced out last
week and former Test captain Mark Taylor quit as a director. Former CEO James
Sutherland stepped down last month.
The ‘Sandpaper-gate’ scandal, where the team was caught using sandpaper to
alter the flight of the ball, also cost former coach Darren Lehmann his job
and prompted lengthy bans for three players.
Cricket Australia said the latest changes signalled a “new chapter” under
the leadership of incoming chief executive Kevin Roberts.
“It is clear that we need to deepen our relationships with fans, players
and the broader cricket community,” Roberts said in a statement.
“We are committed to making cricket stronger and developing closer
connections with the community and greater alignment across the organisation.
“Everyone at CA is focused on rebuilding and moving forward after what has
been a turbulent year in Australian cricket.”
After the sandpaper plot in March, then-captain Steve Smith and his deputy
David Warner were banned for 12 months, and batsman Cameron Bancroft for nine
months. A damning independent review found Cricket Australia partly
responsible for the incident, saying an “arrogant” and “controlling” culture
led to players cheating in the pursuit of victory.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1152 hrs