Advertisement

Smith and Warner set for multi-million dollar paydays

Steve Smith and David Warner have just been handed some good news that will likely result in multi-million dollar paydays.

The banned Aussie cricketers will return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2019 after they were retained by their respective franchises on Thursday.

The duo were omitted from this year’s IPL after the ball-tampering incident in Australia’s Cape Town Test in March, which resulted in them being suspended by Cricket Australia for 12 months.

That saw them miss out on their lucrative IPL contracts, both worth $2.4 million.

David Warner and Steve Smith in South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
David Warner and Steve Smith in South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Former national captain Smith has been retained by Rajasthan Royals, the franchise announced on Thursday.

His former vice captain Warner will be back playing for Sunrisers Hyderabadwho he led to victory in 2016.

Despite their year-long absence from the international game, they will surely garner multi-million deals again for 2019.

While retaining Smith, Rajasthan elected to release his fellow Australians D’Arcy Short and Ben Laughlin.

David Warner and Steve Smith in Sydney grade cricket. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
David Warner and Steve Smith in Sydney grade cricket. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

The bans of Smith and Warner end in March 29, a week after the 11th edition of the IPL begins, but that did not deter the Royals and Sunrisers from sticking with Smith and Warner.

Aussie stars won’t play all of next IPL

However some elite Australian cricketers won’t be allowed to play the entire IPL next year.

Cricket Australia (CA) says any player selected in Australia’s squad for the 50-over World Cup in England will have to attend a training camp in early May, during the tail-end of the IPL.

CA says it will also need to give approval for any Australian cricketer wanting to play in next year’s IPL, which has been brought forward to avoid a clash with the World Cup.

The IPL will run from March 29 to May 19, with the World Cup starting in England on May 30.

CA will also bar any players in the Sheffield Shield final in late March from playing in the IPL until after the shield decider.

with AAP