Steve Smith and David Warner were both left out of Australia‘s squad for the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan in the UAE even though they are eligible for the final two games following the expiry of their ball-tampering bans.
Smith missed the Bangladesh Premier League to undergo an elbow surgery in January. He began batting in Sydney last week. Warner also returned from the BPL after injuring his elbow, which required surgery. However, Warner’s injury is said to be less serious than that of Smith.
Smith and Warner were suspended for one year for their role in the ball-tampering episode in South Africa. That ban is to expire on March 28, which made them available from the fourth ODI onwards.
Despite limited time available before the World Cup in England in late May, Australian selectors decided to pick the same 15-man squad currently in India.
Selector Trevor Hohns said after talks with coach Justin Langer, it was decided to allow Smith and Warner to work their way back to top-level cricket during the Indian Premier League which starts on March 23.
“While their bans will finish 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,” he said.
“David will play with Sunrisers Hyderabad and Steve with Rajastan Royals. Cricket Australia will continue to liaise with both Steve, David and their IPL clubs to monitor progress as we build towards the World Cup and the Ashes,” he added.
Meanwhile, fast bowler Mitchell Starc was also not selected after failing to recover from a pectoral muscle injury picked up during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Canberra.
Hohns is happy with the way the current ODI squad is performing and developing.
“The squad is making pleasing progress ahead of the World Cup, and with three matches remaining in India and the five-match series against Pakistan to come, we believe they will benefit further from the continuity of playing together,” said Hohns.
Australia play the first of five one-dayers against Pakistan on March 22 in Sharjah.
Squad: Aaron Finch (capt), Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Ashton Turner, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa
