Steve Smith has confirmed he will not challenge his suspension from Cricket Australia.
The former Australian captain was banned from playing domestic or international cricket for 12 months for his role in the ball tampering scandal in South Africa.
The Australian Cricketers’ Association had called for an independent, nationwide review into the sport and implored CA to consider downgrading the suspensions of Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, as it felt their punishments were disproportionate to the crime.
The International Cricket Council handed Smith a one-match ban and fined him 100 per cent of his match fee.
CA also ruled Smith ineligible from holding a leadership position for Australia for two years. Warner was also banned for 12 months for coming up with the plan and offering Bancroft a tutorial in ball tampering, while Bancroft received a nine-month suspension for taking a piece of sandpaper onto the ground in Cape Town on day three of the third Test to illegally alter the condition of the ball.
The players had until Thursday to submit an appeal of their bans, which ACA president Greg Dyer said were too harsh and not relative to other documented ball-tampering offences.
But despite speculation he would challenge the CA ban, Smith announced on social media on Wednesday afternoon he would accept his punishment.
“I would give anything to have this behind me and be back representing my country,” he wrote.
“But I meant what I said about taking full responsibility as Captain of the team.
“I won’t be challenging the sanctions. They’ve been imposed by CA to send a strong message and I have accepted them.”
Smith is still eligible to play grade cricket next summer, with his junior club Sutherland announcing last week they were keen to support Smith in his return to the elite level.
It has also been reported that Smith will look to play county cricket in the UK this winter.