Michael Clarke slams Cricket Australia for making David Warner a "scapegoat"

David Warner 

Four years after the infamous 'Sandpapergate' scandal and one captaincy ban later, David Warner is still facing the repercussions of the incident. Warner, who had pleaded Cricket Australia to lift his captaincy ban was in return repaid with uncertainty and messy handling of the matter. 

CA had asked for a public trial but the veteran batter stated that he did not want himself and his family to go through a "humiliation and harm" through the public trials. Following the ill-treatment, Warner withdrew his application to overturn the captaincy ban. 

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke slammed the CA for the way they treated Warner during the appeal. Accusing the board of using the former captain as a "scapegoat".

Clarke hits back at CA

"You can tell he's disappointed and frustrated, I think the other thing that probably hurts a little bit more is the fact Steve Smith is going to captain this Test match. I can understand Davey's disappointment. In regards to where Davey is with his age, he's unfortunately missed out on the captaincy opportunity in my opinion. I don't think that's the concern, it's the fact it's taken so long to process this or to get to where it's at.""

I see it as very inconsistent. I find it very hard to believe it's okay for one but not okay for the other to have a leadership role. If CA decided all the guys involved in what went down in South Africa, none of them were going to play a leadership role, I think that's a fair call."

"But if it's okay for one, if it's okay for Smithy, it's got to be ok for (Cameron) Bancroft and it's got to be okay for Warner. I don't know if it's fair to make David Warner the complete scapegoat and say everyone else can go back to normal. We'll forgive you but we won't forgive Davey."

Also Read: David Warner withdraws application to overturn leadership ban