LG pulls plug on Warner deal, IPL ban follows

Former Australian cricket vice-captain David Warner arrives at Cape Town International Airport, South Africa March 27, 2018. REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham

Sydney (Reuters): Multinational electronics company LG has opted not to renew its contract with David Warner following the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, and the banned Australian was also barred from this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) yesterday (28 March).

Former Australia captain Steve Smith and vice-captain Warner have both been slapped with 12-month bans from international and domestic cricket for their role in a scandal that has rocked the sport.

Cameron Bancroft, who was caught on camera attempting to scuff up the ball with improvised sandpaper during the Cape Town test, was banned for nine months.

Even before Cricket Australia banned Warner and announced he would never be considered for a team leadership position again, LG said yesterday the company would not be giving 31-year-old a new deal.

“LG’s current sponsorship of David Warner is in the final weeks and in light of recent events, we have decided not to renew our partnership,” an LG spokeswoman said in a statement.

Opening batsman Warner first started working with LG as the South Korean company’s brand ambassador in 2014. Several of CA’s major sponsors, including cereal maker Sanitarium, have said they would await the results of a full investigation into the scandal before deciding on the future of their deals with the governing body.