Veteran Indian opener Gautam Gambhir on Thursday said the condition of suspension imposed on former Australian captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner is a bit harsh.

An emotional Gautam Gambhir also further added that Smith is not a cheat. And asked whether Smith and Warner are paying for their revolt against Cricket Australia on pay hike?

Earlier, Steve Smith and David Warner had been banned for 12 months from international and domestic cricket in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal. Following CA’s decision, Indian cricket board (BCCI) also banned the duo from taking part in this year’s India Premier League.

This is what Gambhir tweeted:

“While cricket needs to be corruption-free but feel sanctions on Aussies bit harsh. Are @stevesmith49 & @davidwarner31 paying for revolt for pay hike? History has it administrators deride those who standup for players’ cause. Classic case: Ian Chappell #BallTampering #StevenSmith.”

I may be getting emotional but @stevesmith49 doesn’t look to me a cheat. Don’t know about u but I see in him a desperate leader trying to win a Test match for his country, his team. Yes, indeed, his methods were questionable but let’s not label him corrupt #BallTamperingScandal pic.twitter.com/xOxAM45QXM

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) March 29, 2018

Feel sorry for @stevesmith49 dad (in pic) other family members. Hope media n Aussie public go easy on them as families can be soft targets. More than d ban living wid this feeling of being called a cheat is a bigger punishment. #BallTamperingRow pic.twitter.com/L2sV8BgWAH

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) March 29, 2018

While cricket needs to be corruption-free but feel sanctions on Aussies bit harsh. Are @stevesmith49 & @davidwarner31 paying for revolt for pay hike? History has it administrators deride those who standup for players’ cause. Classic case: Ian Chappell #BallTampering #StevenSmith

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) March 29, 2018

Delhi Daredevils captain Gambhir felt that Smith and Warner being the primary voices during the senior team’s pay hike dispute with the establishment might have played a role in their ouster.

Gambhir also urged the Australian media and the general public to spare a thought for the families of the players.

“Feel sorry for @stevesmith49 dad (in pic) other family members. Hope media and Aussie public go easy on them as families can be soft targets. More than d ban living wid this feeling of being called a cheat is a bigger punishment,” the veteran left-hander wrote in a series of tweets.

In his opinion, Smith can’t be termed a cheat and he would rather call him a “desperate leader” trying to win a Test match. He further wrote:

“I may be getting emotional but @stevesmith49 doesn’t look to me a cheat. Don’t know about u but I see in him a desperate leader trying to win a Test match for his country, his team. Yes, indeed, his methods were questionable but let’s not label him corrupt #BallTamperingScandal.”

-With PTI inputs