SENSATIONAL: Former ICC president Abbas admits Steve Smith's punishment is inadequate; speaks of 2-3 years to lifetime ban

In a massive development in the ball tampering controversy that has engulfed cricket, the former president of the ICC, Zaheer Abbas, has told Republic TV that the action that has been taken so far is inadequate.

Speaking to Republic TV, the former ICC president has bemoaned the fact that the punishment for ball tampering is as lax as it is and has called for a stricter punishment. The ICC on Sunday handed Australia captain Steve Smith a one-test suspension along with match-fee deductions but nothing more.  

"Ball tampering is so common that everyone is doing this and stopping it is paramount. To stop it, punishment is necessary. The ban on the Australia captain isn't justified."

When asked whether the punishment should be increased, and if the ICC was mulling such an option, Abbas said that the one-match ban wasn't commensurate. 

"If he's only saying that it's a serious matter and still there's only a one-match ban, then ball tampering won't stop."

"There should be a ban of at least 2-3 years. You must have seen that when our players also get banned, there's a ban of 4-5 years. Thats how things get stopped. If there would be a life-time ban, then this will stop."

As per the footage, a small, yellow object was seen in Bancroft's hands after he had worked on the ball, and he was also captured taking it from his pocket and seeming to place it down his trousers. It showed Bancroft apparently rubbing the rough side of the ball, the opposite side to which he would usually be trying to shine on his trousers, as is permitted under ICC playing conditions. He appeared to put the object down his pants apparently after being spoken to by the substitute Peter Handscomb, who had come on to the field after speaking to coach Darren Lehmann over the walkie-talkie. When Bancroft spoke to the umpires, he was shown holding a bigger, black cloth rather than the small yellow object he had earlier seemed to place down his trousers.

Following the scandal, Smith and David Warner stepped down as captain and vice-captain, respectively, for the remainder of the third Test against South Africa.

Smith has also been replaced as captain of the Rajasthan Royals by Ajinkya Rahane, though there is no word yet on whether he'll be facing any further punishment in the IPL.