Steve Smith and David Warner’s participation confirmed: The Australian cricketers will be seen playing in IPL 2019.
Cricket Australia have confirmed the participation of stellar Australia duo of Steve Smith and David Warner for the 12th season of the Indian Premier League. While their year-long ban is scheduled to end on March 28, their IPL stint was in jeopardy as Australia will be playing against Pakistan in UAE at that time.
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After their involvement in the infamous Ball Tampering saga at Cape Town last year, both Smith and Warner were suspended from playing in the IPL as well. Them returning to Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively is most likely come as a great respite for both the franchises.
“IPL is the best pathway”
Their participation was announced recently after the Australia selection committee named the Australian squad for the tour of UAE. Having not included the pair, chief selector Trevor Hohns made the development public.
“While their bans will be finished on March 28, Steve and David have been working through rehabilitation from elbow surgery and it has been agreed the best pathway for them to return to play is in the Indian Premier League, a strong competition which features some of the world’s best players,” Hohns was quoted as saying on Friday.
It is clear that Cricket Australia have enough belief that the IPL will provide a competitive environment for both the cricketers to make a comeback. With a looming ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, one expects both of them to put their best foot forward in a bid to press their case.
“David will play with Sunrisers Hyderabad and Steve with Rajasthan Royals. Cricket Australia will continue to liaise with both Steve, David and their IPL clubs to monitor progress as we build towards the ICC World Cup and the Ashes,” Hohns added.
While there is a lot of advocating being done regarding them being included in the squad for the world event, both the cricketers would be wanting to come back on the back of runs and not reputation.
How Twitter reacted:
On another note @rajasthanroyals and @SunRisers wouldn’t mind the fact that Steve Smith and David Warner haven’t been asked to join the team for the last two odis against Pakistan.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 8, 2019
No Steve Smith and David Warner in Australia’s squad for the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan in UAE.
DETAILS 👇https://t.co/nRXD2DNCF8 pic.twitter.com/L445o61bmU
— ICC (@ICC) March 8, 2019
So Australia will come to the WC with their three key players – Smith, Warner & Starc – having played 17 ODIs among them in the 18 months leading to the tournament. https://t.co/UP7FxdbcAn
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) March 8, 2019
Cricket Australia have announced a 15-member squad for the 5-match ODI series against Pakistan to be played in the UAE; David Warner and Steve Smith have not been included for this series which starts on 22nd March in Sharjah #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/wXjaEudKyk
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 8, 2019
The banned duo of David Warner and Steven Smith are set to make their international return directly at the World Cup after being left out of Australia’s squad for the Pakistan series; Mitchell Starc ruled out due to injury https://t.co/t5Zygrp1N1 #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/ELTsIz3LYm
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 8, 2019
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