Australian test skipper Tim Paine steps down from his role following the “sexting” scandal.
Australian test skipper Tim Paine has decided to relinquish his roles and responsibilities weeks ahead of the start of Men’s Ashes 2021-22. The decision came after Paine was investigated over his “sexting” scandals by Cricket Australia (CA).
Tim Paine was involved in an off-field sexting scandal with a co-worker during 2017 at Cricket Tasmania. Back then, a joint investigation from Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania found no breach in Tim Paine’s explicit messages to his then-colleague.
It’s noteworthy, Australia and England will lock horns in the first test match of the Ashes 2021-22 on 8th December in Brisbane. Now as Paine has stepped down from his leadership, the cricket board will now be on its front foot to announce the next Test skipper for Australia as soon as possible.
“Today, I’m announcing my decision to stand down as the captain of the Australian men’s test team. It’s an incredibly difficult decision, but the right one for me, my family, and cricket,” Paine read out from a statement at the presser.
The Aussie cricketer confirmed the accusations imposed on him during the press conference as he admitted that he was involved in an off-field text exchange.
As a background on my decision, nearly four years ago, I was involved in a text exchange with a then-colleague. At the time, the exchange was the subject of a thorough CA Integrity Unit investigation, throughout which I fully participated in.
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“That investigation and a Cricket Tasmania HR investigation at the same time found that there had been no breach of the Cricket Australia Code of Conduct. Although exonerated, I deeply regretted this incident at the time, and still do today. I spoke to my wife and family at the time and am enormously grateful for their forgiveness and support. We thought this incident was behind us and that I could focus entirely on the team, as I have done for the last three or four years.
“However, I recently became aware that this private text exchange was going to become public. On reflection, my actions in 2017 do not meet the standard of an Australian cricket captain, or the wider community. I’m deeply sorry for the hurt and pain that I have caused to my wife, my family, and to the other party. I’m sorry for any damage that this does to the reputation of our sport.
“And I believe that it is the right decision for me to stand down as captain, effective immediately. I do not want this to become an unwelcome disruption to the team ahead of what is a huge Ashes Series.”
Tim will no longer serve Australian cricket as the skipper but will have his roles in the team as a batter.
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