Smith criticised after appearing to remove Pant's guard
Smith's face was not visible on the stump camera but his jersey number of 49 was, which indicated that the former Australia skipper had been the man to scuff the guard.
Steve Smith has been criticised on social media after video footage emerged of him appearing to scuff up Rishabh Pant's batting guard during Australia's third Test with India, reports Sky Sports.
The stump camera seemed to show Smith removing Pant's guard during a drinks break on day five of the drawn game in Sydney.
Pant - who went on score 97 from 118 balls - came back to the crease after the break and was seen searching for his guard and after being unable to find it, he had to ask the umpire.
Smith's face was not visible on the stump camera but his jersey number of 49 was, which indicated that the former Australia skipper had been the man to scuff the guard.
Former India batsman Virender Sehwag and Sky Sports Cricket pundit David Lloyd were among those to voice their displeasure at Smith's apparent actions on Twitter.
Smith was banned by Cricket Australia for one year in March 2018 for the part he played in the Australian ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.
