Organisers hopeful of David Warner and Smith participating in the UAE T20X league

The banned duo of Steve Smith and David Warner are currently playing the Carribean Premier League (CPL). With them not being allowed to participate in any of Cricket Australia’s competitions, these two are courting towards the various cricket leagues around the world. They featured in the inaugural edition of Global T20 Canada as well and there could be a chance that they would feature in the UAE T20x League in December.

They will be returning to Australia next month after the conclusion of the CPL. Smith and Warner are set to play for Sydney clubs Sutherland and Randwick-Petersham respectively. However, the duo is expected to have a break during the Big Bash League (BBL) in December as CA has refrained their participation in the league.

They are also pondering to prefer staying at home during the Christmas and spend valuable time with family. However, the T20x league hopes its development agenda will help convince two of the best Australian players to sign up. It will be played from December 19 to January 11, overlapping with the Big Bash League (BBL) but aligning almost perfectly with grade cricket’s mid-season hiatus.

Will they play?

Salman Sarwar Butt, chief executive of the new league backed by the Emirates Cricket Board, has reached out to both Smith and Warner.  He further noted that there is a positive indication but added that they will have to wait for the final decision. Butt seems to be keen on having them both on board.

“We are in contact with their agents. There is a positive indication but we need to wait and see. We’d love to have them on board. Steve and David are obviously great international players and well known around the world,” Butt was quoted as saying by Fox Sports

The chief executive concluded by saying that Smith and David Warner would love their global cricket development agenda. He hoped that Cricket Australia provides the league with some adequate support and said that the league doesn’t aim at disrupting the BBL players.

If Warner and Smith feature in this league, it will surely give nightmares to the PR team of the BBL. Furthermore, most Test nations, including England, have given the green light for their talent to sign up with UAE T20x.

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