David Warner set to miss white-ball leg of West Indies series to be part of ILT20

As per recent turn of events, Australian cricket stalwart David Warner is expected to skip the white-ball leg of the West Indies tour of Australia in February. As per the speculations, Warner's decision is aligned with his newfound focus on T20 leagues following his imminent Test retirement in Sydney next week.

Warner, slated to play for Dubai Capitals in the ILT20, has a packed schedule, with the tournament running from January 20 to the final scheduled for February 18. The series with the West Indies involves three ODIs and three T20Is scheduled between February 2 and 13.

"The CEO of the Australian Cricketers' Association, Greenberg, hinted that Warner may apply for a No Objection Certificate to join the ILT20, stating, 'I think the short answer to that is probably yes.' Greenberg acknowledged Warner's dedication to the Big Bash League (BBL) and underscored the contemporary reality of players seeking schedule flexibility, as mentioned in a talk with SEN.

"There's no doubt in the next phase of Dave's life he's going to be looking to ply his trade where he gets the best return on his investment. I don't think there's anything wrong with that, in fact I'm encouraging him to do that. There will be times where he'll be looking to miss certain games and tours. That's the sort of flexibility we've got to get our heads around. Some people won't like that, but that's the modern world of which we're living in and we have to embrace it," Greenberg added.

The prospect of Warner favoring domestic T20 deals over international duties could mark a significant shift in Australian cricket. While selectors reportedly anticipated senior players like Warner missing the West Indies series, the plan is to assemble a full-strength squad for the T20Is in New Zealand, a crucial step in gearing up for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and USA.

AUS ODIs against West Indies signal the commencement of a fresh four-year cycle towards the 2027 World Cup. Although Warner's participation in that event seems unlikely, the veteran did express interest in playing post-Australia's triumph in India last month.

I won't be taking a contract, definitely not: Warner

During the recent World Cup, Warner announced his decision not to accept a Cricket Australia central contract next year, citing the constraints associated with contractual obligations and sponsorships.

"I won't be taking a contract, definitely not," Warner had said. "How the system works in Australia is that if you play five [T20] games or ODIs, or three Tests, you get upgraded and then you're legally bound by contracting system with sponsors and stuff.

"That's something that becomes a bit of a pain in the backside, especially at my stage of my career. So I don't want to be signed to that agreement and that's something I have to think about moving forward because if you're going to get a low contract, it's going to cost you a lot in the long run with sponsorships," he added.