Paine Resigns As Australia Test captain For ‘Sexting’ Co-Worker, Sending Nude Pics To Her
Tim Paine explained that the incident was in 2017, however, the text was going to become public
Mumbai: Ahead of the Ashes series, Tim Paine on Friday stepped down as Australia Test Captain following the revelations of a ‘sexting’ incident with a former Cricket Tasmania colleague in 2017.
Announcing his resignation as Test Skipper, he said that it was an “incredibly difficult decision but the right one for him and his family.
“Today, I announced my decision to stand down as the captain of the Australian men’s test team. It’s an incredibly difficult decision, but the right one for me, my family, and cricket,” cricket.com.au quoted Paine.
Paine explained his decision and said he ‘openly participated in the investigation conducted by the Cricket Australia (CA) Integrity Unit Investigation.
“As background on my decision, nearly four years ago, I was involved in a text exchange with a then-colleague. At the time, the exchange was the subject of a thorough CA Integrity Unit investigation, throughout which I fully participated in and openly participated in,” he added.
The wicket-keeper batter “deeply regretted” the incident and said he was ‘enormously grateful to his wife and family for the forgiveness.
In his statement, Paine said, “That investigation and a Cricket Tasmania HR investigation at the same time found that there had been no breach of the Cricket Australia Code of Conduct. Although exonerated, I deeply regretted this incident at the time, and still do today.”
The wicket-keeper batter further said, “I spoke to my wife and family at the time and am enormously grateful for their forgiveness and support. We thought this incident was behind us and that I could focus entirely on the team, as I have done for the last three or four years.”
Paine revealed that the text was going to become public soon, and thus he decided to take responsibility for his actions, adding that he is sorry for all damage that he has done to the reputation of cricket.
“However, I recently became aware that this private text exchange was going to become public. On reflection, my actions in 2017 do not meet the standard of an Australian cricket captain, or the wider community. I’m deeply sorry for the hurt and pain that I have caused to my wife, my family, and to the other party. I’m sorry for any damage that this does to the reputation of our sport” he said.
“And I believe that it is the right decision for me to stand down as captain, effective. immediately, I do not want this to become an unwelcome disruption to the team ahead of what is a huge Ashes Series,” added Paine.
England and Australia will lock horns in the five-match Ashes, beginning December 8 at the Gabba, Brisbane.
“I will remain a committed member of the Australian cricket team and look forward with anticipation to what is a huge Ashes tour,” he said.
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