Australian cricket superstar David Warner has turned his back on the Big Bash League, instead seeking permission to participate in a newly established T20 competition in the subcontinent.
Earlier this month, South Africa officially pulled out of a three-match ODI series against Australia in January, meaning the country’s international stars will be available for the second half of the BBL.
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But according to reports The AustralianWarner has applied to play in the new UAE T20 league this January, snubbing the Big Bash once again.
According to the News Corp report, the UAE tournament is understood to be offering three-year contracts worth A$2.1 million to participants.
Warner, who led Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League for several years, is barred from any captaincy in the BBL due to his role in the notorious Cape Town ball-tampering saga.
While former Test captain Steve Smith, who was also punished for the incident, had his leadership ban lifted two years ago, Warner’s life leadership ban remains intact, despite suggestions recent reports that Cricket Australia may be considering a change of heart.
The 35-year-old, arguably Australia’s most successful T20 cricketer in history, has not played a Big Bash match in nearly nine years.
Warner has amassed 10,870 T20 runs, with eight centuries and 91 fifties in the shortest format of the game.
He was named player of the tournament for last year’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign, while he has finished as the top run-scorer in the IPL on three occasions.
Australian cricket legend Allan Border wants Warner’s leadership ban lifted, saying the New South Wales batsman has “paid his penance” for an action that is routine in the sport.
“First of all, it was a hard penalty… let’s go; they’ve served their time,” he said earlier this week.
“I know every side is doing exactly what we were caught doing. (If) all the captains put their hands on their hearts and said ‘I wasn’t doing anything like that’, they’d be saying ‘porky pies’ (lies).
“The bans that those guys got were a bit over the top for the crime, given the knowledge of the cricketing fraternity where this has happened.
“They all had to change the way they played cricket.”
While CA would be desperate to ensure the sport’s biggest names can feature in the BBL this summer, paceman Mitchell Starc has already decided he will not sign for any franchise.
“I’ve always enjoyed the BBL when I’ve played it… but my approach with all-franchise cricket hasn’t changed in the last seven years,” Starc said. AAP earlier this month.
“My approach to the IPL, BBL, I’ve looked at the Australian schedule and wanted to be as fit and perform as well for that as I can.
“And franchise cricket has taken a back seat.”
The loss of Warner and Starc is a huge blow to CA – the BBL has been left without international quality talent after the last two summers were affected by Covid-19.
Last month, The Daily Telegraph reported that broadcaster Channel 7 had commenced Federal Court action against CA to seek to terminate its television rights agreement.
According to the News Corp report, Seven is adamant that the cricketers who appeared in last summer’s BBL were not of a high enough quality for the competition to meet the standard provisions stipulated in CA’s TV rights contract.
However, the Big Bash has already secured the services of former South African captain Faf du Plessis and Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan, while Australian stars Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Swepson, Nathan Lyon and Alex Carey have also signed for their respective BBL franchises.
CA revealed on Wednesday afternoon that 70 England players have been nominated for next month’s BBL Draft, including international batsman Liam Livingstone.
“The standard of nominations for England’s KFC BBL|12 Draft is exceptional, led by Liam Livingstone and Alex Hales, two of the world’s leading T20 players,” Trent Woodhill, Player Acquisition Consultant and Big Cricket Bash Leagues. he said in a statement.
“The list is also full of players who have shown outstanding recent form in other recent domestic competitions. We know that England are a proven producer of the best T20 talent.
“We expect a robust discussion of these players on Draft night, particularly with regard to retention picks, with a number of eligibles making a strong case for the selection.”
English nominations for BBL Draft
Rehan Ahmed, Martin Andersson, Gus Atkinson, Josh Baker, Sonny Baker, Jake Ball, James Bracey, Danny Briggs, Henry Brookes, Brydon Carse, Matthew Carter, Jordan Clark, Joe Clarke, Josh Cobb, Ian Cockbain, Jordan Cox, Mason Crane , Matt Critchley, Liam Dawson, Brett D’Oliveira, Leus Du Plooy, Stephen Eskinazi, Laurie Evans, Matt Fisher, James Fuller, George Garton, Richard Gleeson, Lewis Gregory, Sam Hain, Alex Hales, Miles Hammond, Tom Hartley, Jack Haynes, Freddie Heldreich, Tom Helm, Ryan Higgins, Max Holden, Benny Howell, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Danny Lamb, Jack Leaning, Jake Lintott, Liam Livingstone, Lewis McManus, Ben Mike, Tymal Mills, Daniel Mousley, Steven Mullaney, Callum Parkinson, Matt Parkinson, David Payne, Michael Pepper, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ben Raine, Adam Rossington, George Scrimshaw, John Simpson, Prem Sisodiya, Olly Stone, Tommy Taylor, Reece Topley, Liam Trevaskis, James Vince, Joe Weatherley, Ross Whiteley, Chris Wood, Luke Wood, Saif Zaib
– with NCA NewsWire