Calcutta: Steve Smith read the writing on the Rajasthan Royals's wall. Then, acknowledging "things had gone out" of his hands, agreed to an "honourable" exit from the captaincy, as firmly suggested by the IPL franchise.

After losing the Australia captaincy, Smith is now no longer the Royals's captain as well. That's not all: If Cricket Australia (CA) hands out a ban in line with its own Code of Conduct, then he won't be with the franchise altogether.

That, indeed, is a strong possibility as Smith and regular vice-captain David Warner may get severely punished, respecting the sentiment across Australia.

In what has been slammed as a weak decision, the International Cricket Council banned Smith for only one Test. Warner, who captains the Sunrisers Hyderabad, got away without sanctions from the world body.

The Royals could have done without a mega scandal, but at least it allowed the franchise to take a stand on principles, sending its image soaring.

In the near future, there will be fewer references to the endless negative headlines during and after IPL 2013.

Surely, the Sunrisers, who're waiting to hear from CA, cannot claim to have also taken the high moral ground.

The IPL's 11th edition begins in just over 10 days, so it's not the best time to redraw strategy. But the Royals do not have a choice, thanks to a "poor decision" by Smith and some teammates at Newlands.

"From what I know, two key figures in the Royals spoke to Smith (in Cape Town) on Monday morning and it was made clear that the franchise couldn't return to the IPL with an image problem...

"Coming back after a two-year suspension, the Royals cannot even remotely start on the wrong foot with everybody questioning the choice of captain...

"Or, constantly asking about the ball-tampering scandal. That would be disastrous from a PR point of view and more...

"That was conveyed to Smith...

"Smith agreed to a formula whereby the Royals issue a statement explaining he'd stepped down, paving the way for Ajinkya Rahane's elevation to the captaincy," a top source in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) told The Telegraph.

A smartly-crafted script played out, but Smith perhaps needed to be given an honourable way out of such a royal mess.

Smith is an old hand at the Royals and, till Saturday night, was the Australia captain.

Incidentally, that Rahane (India's Test vice-captain) was set to captain the Royals had been reported in these columns.

While the top source couldn't identify who called up Smith on the Royals's behalf, it may have been any two from among co-owner Manoj Badale, executive chairman Ranjit Barthakur or head of cricket Zubin Bharucha. Or, probably all three.

Sunil Chellaram, by the way, is the largely 'silent' co-owner of the Royals.

Shane Warne, the Royals's mentor, wasn't involved with the Smith-specific decision as he was in "transit" and developments happened at "rapid pace," one gathered.

Warne, however, has been highly critical of Smith's role in the ball tampering at Newlands.

The focus is now on CA, but no decision is expected before Tuesday night or early Wednesday.

Should CA decide to make an example of Smith, no matter how good a batsman he is, then the BCCI will have to convey to the Royals that the 28-year-old cannot play in the IPL.

The BCCI would follow the same protocol in the case of Warner, should he too be banned.

It's a big test for CA and any slip-up will cause another uproar.

Postscript: If head coach Darren Lehmann was in the dark, then should he not quit? His own players, after all, don't take him into confidence!