Steve Smith, David Warner to join Australia ODI squad in UAE

Forced to remain away from the cricketing arena, Smith and Warner trained with NSW and their respective grade cricket clubs.

Banned Australian duo—Steve Smith and David Warner—are all set for their reintegration with the Australian limited-overs squad as they prepare for the five-match series against Pakistan in UAE. Their 12-month ban is set to end on March 28, making them eligible to play the last two ODIs on March 29 and 31.

However, the Cricket Australia has decided against naming them in the squad and instead asked them to return through their stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Hence, both Smith and Warner will be training with the Australian squad for approximately a week before they reunite with their respective IPL sides.

“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,” selection chairman Trevor 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,” he added.

Forced to remain away from the cricketing arena, Smith and Warner trained with NSW and their respective grade cricket clubs. They also sweated out with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood before featuring in the Bangladesh Premier League where they got injured.