Sponsors throw spin amid talk of life ban

Sydney - An ICC suspension from the final Test against South Africa may be just the start of sanctions for Australia's captain Steven Smith.

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 also threatens to upset current negotiations over broadcast rights.
An ICC suspension from the final Test against South Africa may be just the start of sanctions for Australia's captain Steven Smith who, alongside his deputy David Warner, faces anything up to a life ban for cheating under Cricket Australia's code of behaviour.
As Cricket Australia's head of integrity Iain Roy and high-performance manager Pat Howard arrived in Cape Town to lead the investigation, Smith stepped down as captain of Indian Premier League side Rajasthan Royals.
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.
The sentiment was mirrored by almost all of the sport's commercial partners in Australia, including Qantas, apparel sponsor ASICS, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, insurer Bupa, Specsavers, Toyota, and brewer Lion. "Like the rest of Australia, we're deeply concerned," a Lion spokesman said in a statement.