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Cape Town - Never one to shy away from making his opinions heard, England great Kevin Pietersen has voiced his thoughts on the Australian ball-tampering issue.
Captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and opener Cameron Bancroft - the man who actually did the deed - have all been sent back home ahead of the fourth and final Test in Johannesburg for their roles in an elaborate plan to change the condition of the ball at Newlands in the third Test.
Pietersen, himself no stranger to controversy during his 104-Test matches and 136 ODIs, has taken to Twitter where on Wednesday morning he said he was "gutted" for all three players.
On Tuesday, however, Pietersen suggested that he found it very hard to believe that coach Darren Lehmann was unaware of the plan to tamper with the ball.
While Smith and Warner have been banned for a year and stripped of possible national captaincy for two years, Cricket Australia (CA) CEO James Sutherland said on Tuesday that Lehmann had nothing to do with the issue and he would remain as head coach.
Bancroft, meanwhile, has been banned for nine months.
According to 'KP', Australia should get in former captain Ricky Ponting and opener Justin Langer to help restore pride to the national team.
CA are expected to announce the sanctions for Smith, Warner and Bancroft later on Wednesday.
I’ve woken up this morning actually gutted for Smith, Warner & Bancroft.
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) March 28, 2018
Yes they were involved and will be sanctioned but I’m afraid they weren’t the only ones(& I don’t think anyone else believes they were)...
I hope they get a fair trial.
Lehmann never knew - ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) March 27, 2018
2 men can restore that Baggy Green now - Justin Langer & Ricky Ponting.
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) March 26, 2018
Men with immense Pride, Honour, Courage, Integrity & RESPECT!
They should be flying to SA with James Sutherland RIGHT NOW!
