BALL tampering will remain an issue in other countries until the International Cricket Council imposes harsh penalties, according to cricketing great Merv Hughes.
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He was in Warrnambool on Sunday and said the penalties imposed to Cameron Bancroft, David Warner and Steve Smith were harsh but they served as a deterrent.
"I was very disappointed by it and the penalties were harsh but I think Cricket Australia had to do that to stop people in the future doing it," Hughes said.
"However, with the ICC we're not playing on level playing field because other players from other countries have done it and they get a slap on the wrist - they get a fine or maybe a one match suspension.
"Until the ICC take ball tampering seriously it will continue to happen in other countries."
Hughes said he believed people who played sport at an elite level were under enormous pressure to succeed.
"When I sat down and thought about it, it probably hit home how much pressure these guys are under," he said.
Hughes said he didn't believe the scandal would have happened under the leadership of Allan Border.
"People ask me if I would have done it and I say mate I wouldn't be worried about the ICC penalties, I wouldn't be worried about Cricket Australia, I would worry about what Allan Border would think and say," he said.
"He was such a fantastic leader and I had the utmost respect for him.
"He was probably one of the most honest, high integrity blokes I've met and he wouldn't have accepted it."
Hughes said when while he accepted the on-field antics of the players was open to public scrutiny, he was sick of people being criticised for their off-field behaviour.
"I don't think I've read an article for a long time now that gives you anything more than you can get from the scorecard," he said.
"When something goes wrong off the field they show they're great journalists but I don't think they're sports journalists - it's not so much about what's happening on the ground.
"If Steve Smith wants to have a beer in New York, let him."
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