Smith stayed back in India to avoid tax

Johannesburg: Already drawing flak for South Africa's early exit from the World Cup, outgoing cricket captain Graeme Smith has drawn more criticism for staying back in India even after the quarterfinal defeat to avoid paying income tax back home.

Smith, currently in Ireland to visit his girlfriend pop star Morgan Deane, reportedly asked to stay on in India instead of facing the music with the rest of the side when it returned home last week.

Cricket South Africa CEO Gerald Majola said Smith's request had been sanctioned by the manager of the side.

Teammate Faf du Plessis unwittingly sparked media interest in Smith's absence when he said on a radio station after returning home that the outgoing skipper had stayed on in India to meet requirements which would exempt him from paying income tax back home.