Dishonoured Australia cricket skipper Steve Smith was banned for one game as he and vice-captain David Warner stepped down from their roles on Sunday amid a ball-tampering malicious attempt that has outrageous the cricket-world and threatens a far more damaging side effect for one of the game’s most noble-minded teams.

While many former cricketers criticized ICC’s one-match ban on Smith as being too mild, sources told  to the reporters of TOI that Cricket Australia, facing a massive atrocity at home, is likely to announce “exemplary punishment” — which could even be a life ban — for the “leadership group” in the team. The ICC also fined batsman Cameron Bancroft, the man tasked with doing the tampering, 75% of his match fee and three disciplinary demerit points.

The scandal brought back memories of Smith’s “brain fade” episode during Australia’s turn of India last year. The captain had lawlessly sought the help of his dressing room on whether to review the on-field umpire’s decision.

The current ball-tempering-scandal caused Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull to ask: “How can our team be engaged in cheating like this? It beggars belief.”

The ICC also fined Australia batsman Cameron Bancroft, who was the man indulged in doing the tampering on the field, 75% of his match fee and three disciplinary demerit points.