Suspended Australia batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner have not been picked for the for the five-match ODI series against Pakistan in the UAE. Cricket Australia on Friday named an unchanged squad from the original 15-man group that toured India last month. The duo, currently recovering from elbow surgery, will look to make their international returns at the World Cup in England.
Smith, along with David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, were handed over a 12-month ban from international cricket following the infamous ball-tampering scandal that took place during the four-match series in South Africa in March 2018.
While Bancroft has returned on the field after serving the 9-month ban, Smith and Warner, both recuperating from elbow surgeries, became eligible for selection from March 29.
"After consultation with members of the National Selection Panel, Greg Chappell and Head Coach Justin Langer, Interim EGM Team Performance Belinda Clark, CA Medical Team and both players, it has been agreed Steve Smith and David Warner will not be available for selection for the final two matches of the series against Pakistan," Hohns said in a statement.
"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."
Australia will enter the third ODI against India at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi - Dhoni's hometown. The Men-in-Blue will be aiming to take an unassailable 3-0 lead and clinch the series.
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (vc), Pat Cummins (vc), Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Peter Handscomb, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Turner, Adam Zampa