South African star Faf du Plessis thinks David Warner's captaincy ban is TOO HARSH

Former South African captain Faf du Plessis believes David Warner’s lifetime leadership ban issued by Cricket Australia was too harsh and should be lifted.

The 38-year-old mid-level batsman was in charge of the Proteas during the infamous 2018 test in which Warner ordered his Australian teammate, Cameron Bancroft, to use sandpaper to alter the movement of the ball in Cape Town.

Bancroft was caught on camera following Warner’s ball handling instructions and the chaos ensued.

Warner and then captain Steve Smith were each suspended for 12 months for bringing the sport into disrepute in the eyes of CA.

Bancroft served a nine-month suspension, and the feeling outside Australia in elite cricket circles was that the punishments were too severe.

Du Plessis himself was involved in two ball-handling incidents of his own during his career.

Former South African captain Faf du Plessis believes David Warner’s lifetime leadership ban issued by Cricket Australia in 2018 should be lifted

Cricket Australia banned Warner from the sport for 12 months following the ball handling incident in Cape Town in 2018

The first was in 2013 against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, where he used the zipper on his pants to change the movement of the ball.

Three years later, du Plessis made headlines again, this time at Adelaide for using a trowel or mint to make one side of the ball gooey.

He was fined 100 percent of his match fee, but was not banned for any matches.

So rather than condemn Warner, du Plessis believes the rude opening batsman has served his time and should now be able to show off his leadership skills, whether it be with Australia, an overseas T20 franchise or during the Big Bash this summer. .

“I never throw stones, I point fingers at myself probably louder than anybody else, and I’m not a glass house,” du Plessis told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“So I think Davey certainly served his time, he served a very, very harsh penalty that a lot of guys, myself included, did things wrong as well, [we] didn’t even come close to [same type of] penalty that got Smith, Bancroft and Warner.

Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera following Warner’s ball handling instructions with sandpaper and the chaos followed.

Then Australian captain Steve Smith (pictured right) was also suspended for 12 months, with Bancroft issuing a nine-month suspension.

“He could do it, I’ve seen him in the IPL being captain of one of the franchises there and having a successful campaign.”

Through the publication of his autobiography. through the firedu Plessis also revealed that the South Africans felt Australia bullied them early in the 2018 home series, and collectively vowed to be more aggressive.

The result was goalkeeper Quinton de Kock infuriating Warner after a nasty insult directed at his wife Candice.

Warner felt that de Kock crossed the line, and from that point on, tensions between the two nations reached a boiling point.

‘I copy it left, right and center, especially out of the spectators’ field. I’m used to it and it doesn’t bother me,” Warner said at the time.

I’ve been called everything under the sun on the field and that, frankly, doesn’t bother me. But in the vicinity of my personal space, a comment was made, which was vile and disgusting, about my wife.

‘It was something I don’t think should have been said… it was out of line.

“I responded emotionally and regretted the way it played out, but I will always stand up for my family.”