In a stunning turn of events, the ball-tampering issue, featuring Australian cricket team’s captain Steven Smith and his fellow cricketer Cameron Bancroft, has snowballed into a massive controversy with the Australian government asking for its cricket board, Cricket Australia, to remove their disgraced skipper.

Hours after Cricket Australia refused to ask Smith to step down after his confession on having a role in the ball-tampering episode, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called the incident a "shocking disappointment."

According to a latest news update, published on leading global cricket website, ESPNcricinfo.com, the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) Chair John Wylie, the ASC Board, and CEO Kate Palmer – essentially speaking for the Australian government – called for severe action against the team.  

"The ASC condemns cheating of any form in sport," it said in a statement. The ASC expects and requires that the Australian team and athletes demonstrate unimpeachable integrity in representing the country.

"Given the admission by Australian captain Steve Smith, the ASC calls for him to be stood down immediately by Cricket Australia, along with any other members of the team leadership group or coaching staff who had prior awareness of, or involvement in, the plan to tamper with the ball. This can occur while Cricket Australia completes a full investigation."

The strong statement from the Australian government came shortly after CA chief executive James Sutherland had said the board would launch a probe on the ball tampering issue but categorically denying any chance of ousting Smith with immediate effect.

On Saturday, Bancroft was charged with altering the condition of the ball on the third day of the 3rd Test at Cape Town. 

The 25-year-old opener, who was caught by TV cameras tampering the ball with a small, yellow object which he subsequently putting into his trousers, went on to admit, “We had a discussion during the break and I saw an opportunity to use some tape, get some granules from the rough patches on the wickets and change the condition, it didn't work, the umpires didn't change the ball. I was cited on the screen and that resulted in me shoving it down my trousers.”

Quite surprisingly, Bancroft’s confession was followed by a candid admission by his captain, Steven Smith, who sat next to him at the press conference after the end of the day’s play. “The leadership knew about it, we spoke about it at lunch. I'm not proud of what's happened, it's not within the spirit of the game.” 

Smith mentioned even though he refused to step down, taking a high moral ground, "I won’t consider stepping down. I still think I am the right person for the job. Today was a big mistake on my part and on the leadership group as well. I have to take control of the ship. This is something I am not proud of. It's something I hope I can learn from and come back from. I am embarrassed. It is a big error in judgment.”