WACA hints at removing club cricket barrier for Cameron Bancroft

Despite having been cleared by Cricket Australia to play club cricket, the 25-year-old faces a WACA rule hurdle.

Cameron Bancroft has been banned from playing international cricket for nine months.

Tainted Australian batsman Cameron Bancroft, who is banned from all forms of international and domestic cricket for nine months, can still play for his local side Willeton. Cricket Australia, in a statement released last week, had permitted "all three players (indicted in the ball-tampering scandal) to play club cricket to maintain links with the cricket community."

However, Willeton - a southern suburb in Perth - falls under the purview of the Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA) and according to the WACA rule, a "player serving a suspension issued by Cricket Australia is automatically disqualified from participation in WADCC competitions for the duration of that suspension."

Read - ACA: 'Reduce Smith, Warner disproportionate bans'

However, all hope is not lost for the 25-year-old batsman after WACA chief executive Christina Matthews hinted at a possible change in rule to facilitate Bancroft's participation. “Cameron’s been a well respected and well-regarded member of the WA cricket family and he’s made a dreadful mistake but we’ll help him through that,” Matthews had told the media.

Sportstar has learnt that the three players — including former captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner — have until April 11 to challenge the sanctions. Meanwhile, a source close to Bancroft told this publication that a decision regarding the hearing 'will be reached shortly'.