Mumbai :Former Australia captain Steve Smith will return to cricket as a marquee player in next month’s Global T20 Canada league.
The Aussie batsman was banned from playing international and domestic cricket in Australia after his involvement in the ball-tampering saga during the third Test versus South Africa in Cape Town. Following that he, along with David Warner, were also suspended from playing in IPL 2018 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
But, Smith’s 12-month ban from national and state teams for his role in the scandal in Cape Town does not extend to domestic tournaments outside his home nation and he can play if the cricket board of the country has no objection to it.
The 28-year-old will join compatriot Chris Lynn as well as Chris Gayle and Shahid Afridi for the month-long tournament.
Australia batsman David Warner, who also received a year-long ban for his role in the South Africa scandal, is expected to join the June 28-July 16 tournament as a marquee.
Global T20 Canada will have a total of six teams with five representing Canadian cities — Edmonton Royals, Montreal Tigers, Toronto Nationals, Vancouver Knights and Winnipeg Hawks.
The players’ draft will be held next week.
Cricket West Indies will have a representative team in the event with only Caribbean players. All matches will be held at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club near Toronto.
Smith and Warner will not be available for Australia until April next year. Batsman Cameron Bancroft was handed a nine-month ban for the tampering incident.
Australia, captained by Tim Paine, head to England to play a series of limited overs matches next month, their first international cricket since the ill-fated South Africa tour.
