5 Times when cricketers were punished for their social media activity

3) Emily Smith

Emily Smith was initially banned for 12 months before her ban was reduced to just 2 months. The Hobart Hurricanes wicketkeeper posted the Hurricanes team which was all set to face Sydney Thunder on her personal Instagram account on Saturday, 2 November 2019. The match was abandoned owing to the poor weather over there back then.

Cricket Australia’s Anti-Corruption Code prohibits disclosing inside information where the “participant knew or might reasonably have known that such disclosure might lead to the information being used in relation to betting in relation to any match or event”. While some people felt her punishment was too harsh, the others felt that it was rightly deserved. Sean Carroll, CA’s head of integrity and security, then said that the governing body accepted that there was no intent to breach the code but all players must be aware of their responsibilities.

Carroll said via a CA statement: “Whilst Cricket Australia acknowledges that at the time of posting the team line-up there was no intent to breach the Anti-Corruption Code, CA’s rigorous anti-corruption player education program means that players are well aware of their obligations under the Anti-Corruption Code and there is no excuse for breaches regardless of the reasons for information being disclosed.