'It's absolutely staggering' - Kim Hughes comes hard on CA for giving captaincy to Tim Paine despite knowing his off field controversy

It was on November 19, 2021, that Australian skipper Tim Paine decided to step down from the captaincy role after CA revealed some controversial texts sent to a woman colleague in 2017. In the same light of events, former Australian skipper Kim Hughes added that it is truly unacceptable for CA to have not maintained their integrity by continuing Paine as a skipper in the past.

Hughes stated that if CA knew the act of Paine earlier, they shouldn’t have put him on the captaincy chair. On one hand, CA talk of preaching integrity while they themselves refuse to implement it reckoned the former skipper of Australia.

“Paine did what he had to do but what I find staggering is that Cricket Australia reviewed the situation and did nothing. The standard you walk past is the standard you accept. Integrity? You’ve got to be kidding me. For god’s sake. You found that out and then said well, that’s still acceptable and to appoint him captain? Give me a break. It’s absolutely staggering, said Hughes while speaking to Five AA radio in Adelaide.

I was involved in a texting exchange with a woman colleague: Tim Paine

Earlier in the day, Paine talked about his decision to step down from Test captaincy through a press conference. He emotionally accepted his text exchange which took place in 2017 and added that he is enormously grateful to his family for forgiving him on the matter. He made a point that he wasn’t aware that a private chat would be made public any day. However, Paine showed the spirit of playing the upcoming Ashes.

“Today I am announcing my decision to step down as the captain of the Australian cricket team. It is an incredibly difficult decision but the right one for me, my family, and cricket. As a background, I was involved in a texting exchange with a woman colleague. At the time the exchange was subject to investigation. I deeply regret this incident. I spoke to my wife and family and I am enormously grateful for their forgiveness and support,” said Paine earlier in the press conference.