Australia to manage return of tainted duo

E-Paper | July 25, 2026

Australia to manage return of tainted duo

Reuters Published February 7, 2019

Former Test captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner will become eligible for state and international cricket on March 29. — File photo

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SYDNEY: Steve Smith and David Warner will not be rushed back into the Australia side as soon as their bans expire next month but coach Justin Langer thinks it would be ‘crazy’ not to include them in the World Cup squad.

The former Test captain and vice-captain, Australia’s best two batsmen, will become eligible for state and international cricket on March 29 after serving one-year bans for their part in the Newlands ball-tampering scandal.

The prospective return of both has been complicated by elbow injuries with Smith’s more serious problem requiring major surgery and likely to sideline him right up to the expiration of his ban.

Coach Langer, who will prepare sides for both the World Cup defence and Ashes tour over the next few months, said the timing of their international returns would depend both on the injuries and also on how much cricket they were able to play.

“They’re going to need to get some cricket before coming back into the squad. It’s all part of the management. We’ll have to wait and see,” he said on Wednesday.

“We know it’s been a tough time for them, it’s been a tough time for Australian cricket, but we know the ... integration has been going for the last nine or ten months ... it’s getting closer, isn’t it? And that’ll be a continued process.

“It’s about how much cricket they get to play between now and then. They’ll find opportunities. We’ll find opportunities.

“We’re talking about two great players, we’re not talking about two really good players,” he added. “Two great players who on paper we’d be crazy not to have them in the team.”

With both retained by their franchises for this year’s Indian Premier League beginning on March 23 and Australia playing an ODI series against Pakistan in March-April, there will be plenty of opportunities for them to show their form and fitness.

Australia must select their squad for the World Cup on April 23 and Smith’s agent poured cold water on reports that the former skipper might skip the tournament in favour of preparing for the Ashes with some red ball cricket.

“The intent is that he will play in the IPL and then the World Cup and then the Ashes,” Warren Craig told Cricket Australia’s website.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2019

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Shazad

Feb 07, 2019 02:10pm

Unlike Australia and other countries, Pakistan is an unfortunate country where for most, personal interests, ego, like/dislike, nepotism, biases, petty privileges, feeling of being above law, and few dollars in bank earned illegally, are more important than country. This situation is true for Politicians, Bureaucrats, Journalists and even most of ordinary citizens. When other countries think of their country and how to win in cricket for the prestige of their motherland, Pakistan is engraved in provincial and other biases. They banned one of their best limited over opener (Sharjeel) on dubious charges, long enough that he could not be included in World cup team. It seems, decision makers think of their ego, biases, like/dislike and nepotism more than prestige of Country and Pakistan cricket. Unfortunate is that, most so-called lifafa journalists know that, but would not say anything fearing that their voice may estrange their relationship with PCB and associated perks.

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Shazad

Feb 07, 2019 03:03pm

Unlike Australia and other countries, Pakistan is an unfortunate country where for most, personal interests, ego, like/dislike, nepotism, biases, privileges, feeling of being above law, and few dollars in bank earned illegally, are more important than country. This situation is true for Politicians, Bureaucrats, Journalists and even many ordinary citizens. When other countries think of their country and how to win and be successful for the prestige of their motherland, Pakistan is engraved in provincial and other biases. They banned one of their best limited over opener (Sharjeel) on dubious charges, long enough that he could not be included in World cup team. PCB management think of their ego, biases, like/dislike and nepotism more than prestige of Country and Pakistan cricket. Unfortunate is that, many journalists know that, but would not say anything fearing that their voice may estrange their relationship with PCB and associated perks [I doubt even this post would be published].

Recommend 0

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