Cricket Australia (CA) has scrapped the lifetime leadership ban on David Warner that was controversially handed down in the wake of the Newlands ball-tampering incident. 

The suspension had been the last remaining sanction in place from the "Sandpaper-gate" saga, of which Warner was considered the architect.

An independent three-member review panel unanimously determined Warner met the criteria to have his ban overturned after the former Test opener lodged an appeal with CA.

Warner retired from international cricket this year, but the decision paves the way for him to hold a formal leadership role with the BBL's Sydney Thunder this summer.

The panel acknowledged the ball-tampering, in which rookie batter Cameron Bancroft was instructed to use sandpaper to affect the condition of the ball during the third Test in Cape Town, was "very serious" and warranted a "heavy sanction".

"The offence caused great shame and embarrassment not only to the Australian Men's Cricket Team but to the Australian community in general," the panel's findings read.

But it added that "exceptional circumstances" existed that allowed the long-term sanction to be appealed, reviewed and, if need be, altered.

The review said Warner's efforts to change his behaviour as well as the lengthy ban already served factored into the decision to cut short the leadership ban.

Among the submissions the panel received were letters of reference from current Australia men's captain Pat Cummins, former national captains Greg Chappell and Lisa Sthalekar, as well as men's coach Andrew McDonald and New Zealand star Kane Williamson. 

Also mentioned in the review's findings were Warner's good behaviour since Cape Town, and the impact he can have on younger generations going forward.

The panel accepted Warner's claim that, since that fateful day in Cape Town six-and-a-half years ago, he has changed his "chirpy" behaviour. 

"After the events in 2018 I just started thinking about myself and how I just wanted to be perceived better on the field," he told the panel.

"I want to be playing hard, but I want to be that person that they want to have a beer with after the game."