Life-ban too harsh: Rhodes

Perhaps not many would know the impact of being part of a team  hit by cheating allegations as much as Jonty Rhodes.  

Hansie Cronje, who led the South African team in India in 2000, was charged for fixing one-day international games during the tour. The scandal rattled the cricket world as many more names were revealed to be involved in the mess. Rhodes, who was part of the South African team when the episode broke, had witnessed the consequences from close  quarters.  

The four-match Test series between South Africa and Australia has brought back  the focus on ethics and fair play in cricket. With the Australian skipper Steve Smith and deputy David Warner stepping down from their roles after admitting their roles in the ball-tampering episode in the third Test in Cape Town, calls for severe punishments have come from around the world, with some even suggesting a life-ban.

Despite criticising the act by the Australian players, Rhodes felt a life ban would be a harsh decision. "I was in the team when Hansie Cronje was involved in a life ban. I understand the severity of life ban. What he did was wrong. Considering the current case,  from the point of view of ICC regulation, what the Australians did was wrong  and there are different punishments. But just because there is a huge cry for a life ban in Australia they cannot ban them."      

"Enough pressure has already been put by the Australian government, cricket Australia and  the sports council  of  Australia  and these bodies have already decided to act. But ban for life? I think that's too much," Rhodes told DH on Tuesday.

Rhodes was in Bengaluru for the launch of Fantasy Sports Experience Platform by StarPick. Rhodes is on the advisory panel of the fantasy league that incorporates not just cricket but other sports as kabaddi, football  and golf. The platform is set to go active from this year's IPL.  

Rhodes said the magnitude of the mistake shouldn't be lost just because of the players  owned up  their acts. "I understand that teams and cricketers are role models. It (ball tampering) was a mistake. Just because they came out confessing, it doesn't make the crime any lesser. They planned for it. But ban for life is a bit too much.  I spent a lot of time with Hansie after he was banned and it was extremely difficult for him. He wasn't even allowed to  watch  matches in the stadium. These are some extreme cases," he explained.

South Africa was involved in a high-profile series against India before taking on the Aussies and according to Rhodes, the biggest surprise of the tour was right-arm seamer Jasprit Bumrah.  

"The interesting thing was how Bumrah went from a debutant to  a senior bowler in just three games.  I have worked with him in the Mumbai Indians and he has made a name for himself in the limited overs. But even in the red-ball game, he was impressive."

"India were competent but needed more belief. India didn't prepare well for the series as well. In the first Test,  they didn't bowl well in the second innings. In Pretoria, they dropped catches but in the final game, they outplayed South Africa with an  all-round game and that kind of approach is needed when they face England next," he said.  

Proteas' pacer Morne Morkel is mulling to sign a Kolpak deal, in which players can represent teams in European nations without being considered overseas players.    

Rhodes wasn't too concerned about it: "South Africa  had to deal with Kolpak for quite a while now. Kyle Abbot made the transition after the 2015 World Cup but  we got  replacements  in Rabada (Kagiso) and Ngidi (Lungi). As long as the cricketing system is good we can  continue to  produce quality cricketers."