Banned Australia batsman David Warner’s Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) stint will be cut short with the opener sustaining an injury to his elbow.
Just days after his compatriot and fellow banned batsman Steve Smith’s BPL stint was ended prematurely with an injury, Warner has faced a similar setback after his Sylhet Sixers’ clash against Rangpur Riders on Wednesday.
The left-hander had taken everyone by surprise by batting right-handed against Chris Gayle in the clash and had smashed two sixes and a boundary in the same over. The Sixers skipper remained unbeaten on 61 off just 36 deliveries but that innings has come at a cost to the southpaw.
Cricket Australia (CA) on Thursday confirmed that Warner will return early from his BPL stint to asses his elbow although the batsman is free to play two more games for his franchise before making the journey home on Monday.
“David has reported some pain in his right elbow,” a CA spokesman stated.
David Warner set to return home early from BPL with elbow injury: https://t.co/Ig9F75NpXQ pic.twitter.com/u79bByUYek
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 17, 2019
“We will have a clearer understanding of the extent of his injury once he has been assessed.”
Smith, who was representing the Comilla Victorians in the league, had suffered an injury to his elbow as well and is now set to be sidelined for a prolonged spell.
The former Australia skipper underwent a surgery for his ligament injury on Tuesday and faces up to six weeks in a brace. The injury has already forced the right-handed batsman to rule himself out of the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) edition where he was due to represent the Multan franchise.
Both Smith and Warner continue to serve the one-year bans from international and domestic cricket handed out to them by Cricket Australia following their roles in the infamous ball-tampering saga.
The bans for the two batsmen come to an end on March 29 this year with the duo expected to return to Australia’s squad in time for the ICC World Cup in England.
