Faf du Plessis recalls contacting Steve Smith during the 2018 Cape Town ball-tampering scandal, telling him “you did nothing wrong” and urging him to stay strong. All three outlets describe the episode as one captain offering support to another amid intense public and media scrutiny.
The reports place the message in the context of du Plessis’ own experience: ESPN Cricinfo and the other summaries link his empathy to a similar situation he faced earlier, with Times of India specifically mentioning a 2016 charge. Across coverage, the focus stays on their mutual respect and the personal understanding that shaped du Plessis’ response during what both outlets frame as one of Smith’s hardest periods.
While the outlets differ slightly in how much detail they include about the surrounding controversy, they generally agree that the Sandpapergate series is remembered for its acrimony, yet Smith and du Plessis are presented as showing empathy toward each other rather than hostility. The core takeaway across sources is the supportive message and its connection to du Plessis’ earlier experience.
