BCB denies Steve Smith permission to play in the BPL

Everything was going right for Steve Smith just a few months ago. He was Australian skipper, the best Test batsman in the world and was creating his own legacy with every passing day. But his career took a turn for worse when he was caught in the ball-tampering scandal during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town in March this year.

Consequently, Smith along with his David Warner and Cameron Bancroft are currently serving bans for their involvement in the ball-tampering scandal In the wake of the scandal, Cricket Australia had slapped lengthy bans on the trio. While Smith and Warner received one-year ban each, Bancroft was docked with a nine-month suspension.

Smith also had to give up his captaincy. The trio was banned from playing international and first-class cricket for their states. However, CA had made it clear the forbidden trio would be allowed to play grade cricket as well as franchise cricket. As a result, Smith, and Warner made their return to the field through the inaugural Global T20 Canada league. Smith and Warner also played in the Caribbean Premier League.

Setback for Smith

The disgraced Australia batsman, meanwhile, has been dealt a big blow as the Bangladesh Cricket Board has decided not to allow him to take part in the upcoming edition of Bangladesh Premier League. The cricket board took the decision after franchises expressed their reservations over his inclusion in the tournament, citing a by-law violation.

Smith was set to ply his trade for Comilla Victorians as a replacement for Shoaib Malik for the upcoming season. However, since he was picked outside the draft which violates the rule of the competition, the franchises made their displeasure clear to the BCB.

“Yes he [Smith] is not available for us. We have received a mail in this regard last night,” Victorians chief executive Col[retd] AKM Zaki told Cricbuzz.

Smith was set to feature in the team after the departure of Shoaib Malik, who will join the Pakistan team for the limited-overs leg of their series against South Africa which begins on January 19. Meanwhile, the Australian cricketer’s international ban will end on March 29 next year.

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~ Written by Bijoy

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