CAPE TOWN - Australia captain Steve Smith has said his side deliberately tried to tamper with the condition of the ball on the third day of the third test against South Africa at Newlands on Saturday in an orchestrated attempt to gain an advantage.

Batsman Cameron Bancroft has been charged by the International Cricket Council and Smith told reporters that it was a deliberate plan from the “leadership group” of the side, but added he would not step down as captain.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday in South Africa @cbancroft4 ✌? pic.twitter.com/CTVBxB3ajF

— Simon Harmer (@SimonHarmerRSA) March 24, 2018

“The leadership group knew about it, we spoke about it at lunch,” Smith told a news conference.

“I am not proud of what has happened. It’s not in the spirit of the game, my integrity and the integrity of the team has been damaged and rightfully so. It’s not on and it won’t happen again, I can promise you.”

Ball tampering?

Australia’s Cameron Bancroft shines the ball and the moves a yellow material from his right pocket into his underwear when the umpires later intervene #sandpapergate #SAvAUSpic.twitter.com/8C4GETqv5Z

— David Gower (@SerpentSatin616) March 24, 2018

However, former players and pundits have demanded Steve Smith give up the Australia cricket captaincy for "blatant cheating" in the wake of stunning ball-tampering revelations during the third test against South Africa in Cape Town.