Hobart Hurricanes wicketkeeper Emily Smith has been banned, in effect for three months, under Cricket Australia's anti-corruption code after posting team news on social media before a WBBL game.
Smith, 24, has been sanctioned for putting the Hurricanes' team line-up on her Instagram account, in a video taken from within the restricted Player and Match Official Area (PMOA), approximately an hour before it was due to be released for the match against the Sydney Thunder on November 2 in Burnie. The game was later abandoned because of the weather but that has not prevented a substantial punishment.
Her ban is for 12 months with nine months suspended, but that still means Smith, who had played all eight of the Hurricanes' matches this season, will miss the rest of the WBBL and the Women's National Cricket League, which resumes in January.
Cricket Tasmania said in a statement that they were reviewing their processes for players and officials inside the PMOA where mobile phones are prohibited. They added that Smith was being supported by the state and the Australian Cricketers Association.
Article 2.3.2 of CA's anti-corruption code prohibits "Disclosing Inside Information to any person (with or without Reward) where the Participant knew or might reasonably have known that such disclosure might lead to the information being used in relation to Betting in relation to any Match or Event."
In a related note, the code states: "Any potential offence under this Article will be considered on its own set of facts and the particular circumstances surrounding any relevant disclosure. For example, it may be an offence under this clause to disclose Inside Information: (a) to journalists or other members of the media; and/or (b) on social networking websites where the Participant knew or should reasonably have known that such disclosure might lead to the information being used in relation to Betting."
Sean Carroll, Cricket Australia's head of integrity and security, said: "Whilst Cricket Australia acknowledges that at the time of posting the team line-up there was no intent to breach the Anti-Corruption Code, CA's rigorous anti-corruption player education program means that players are well aware of their obligations under the Anti-Corruption Code and there is no excuse for breaches regardless of the reasons for information being disclosed.
"Since the commencement of the WBBL, Cricket Australia has had in place a robust anti-corruption program. We have been working with Emily throughout the process and Emily now understands the mistake she made. Unfortunately, in this instance Emily's actions breached the Anti-Corruption Code. We hope this serves as reminder to all that the Anti-Corruption Code is critical to protecting the integrity of the game."