Ball-tampering could cost Australian cricket hundreds of millions
Sydney — Australia’s major cricket sponsors, including Qantas Airways, breakfast cereal maker Sanitarium and brewer Lion, said on Monday they were assessing their relationship with the country’s favourite pastime as the fallout from a ball-tampering scandal escalates. The incident, which former disgraced Australian captain Steve Smith said involved senior players hatching a plan to tamper with the ball during a game against SA, also threatens to upset current negotiations over broadcast rights. Weetbix-maker Sanitarium, which counts Smith as a brand ambassador, said it was reviewing its sponsorship pending the outcome of an investigation by governing body Cricket Australia. "Certainly it’s under review as the actions taken by the team in SA don’t align with our own values — Sanitarium does not condone cheating in sport," Sanitarium said in a statement. The sentiment was mirrored by almost all of the sport’s commercial partners in Australia, including Qantas, apparel sponsor Asics, C...
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