Australia top cricket chiefs on Friday ruled out stepping down after a ball-tampering scandal that shocked the nation, saying it was "not the time for a witch-hunt" as a review into player conduct was announced.

The sport has been engulfed in one of its biggest crisis after former captain Steve Smith, his deputy David Warner and batsman Cameron Bancroft attempted to alter the ball's condition in the third Test in South Africa last month.

Smith and Warner were banned for a year and Bancroft for nine months, with the trio accepting their sanctions on Wednesday and Thursday.

Critics have questioned whether CA's role in the affair should come under scrutiny, but chairman David Peever said he did not intend to step down and that chief executive James Sutherland's job was not in jeopardy.

"James Sutherland's position is not under review, he continues to retain the full support of the board," Peever told reporters in Brisbane.

"In respect of my own position, no, I do not intend to step down, and that hasn't been suggested by the board. Our task now is to work through this problem and make sure we come through and cricket comes through it much more strongly.

"I think we will all come under the microscope about what is happening in the organisation. But this is not the time for a witch-hunt."

Peever said the governing body was "moving forward", with an independent review announced last week to "have a broad remit" and look into wider cultural and organisational issues in the sport.

He added that former ex-Test opener Rick McCosker would also chair a separate player and former-player driven process to consider a charter setting out "standards of behaviour and expectations of Australian teams".

"It is anticipated that this process will include assessments as to whether changes to codes and standards governing player conduct are required," Peever, a former managing director of mining giant Rio Tinto, said.

All three players have been dumped by sponsors as a result of the scandal, while Cricket Australia has been dropped by its top sponsor, fund manager Magellan.

Opinion

Editorial

Unfinished business
Updated 03 Jul, 2026

Unfinished business

THE landmark 18th Amendment and seventh NFC Award radically reshaped Pakistan’s fiscal federalism by transferring...
Abuse cycle
03 Jul, 2026

Abuse cycle

LULLED into a sense of false security by its own denial and apathy, Pakistan is a long way from achieving tangible...
Closing the gap
03 Jul, 2026

Closing the gap

THE numbers are encouraging, yet one cannot help but rue the opportunities still being lost. The GSMA’s Mobile...
‘Talks over hostility’
Updated 02 Jul, 2026

‘Talks over hostility’

THE recent appeal endorsed by civil society members from Pakistan and India, urging the prime ministers of both...
Lahore tragedy
02 Jul, 2026

Lahore tragedy

THE death of 14 children in the roof collapse of a private tuition centre in Lahore has plunged the entire country...
Data policy
02 Jul, 2026

Data policy

THE draft ‘Data Governance Policy’, released by the IT ministry recently, is a welcome step towards modernising...