PSL 2019: Steve Smith agrees to play the event on one condition

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has already been a witness to three editions. While the first season was entirely played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the authorities are steadfastly trying to host the T20 tournament in Pakistan. The war-stricken country hosted three matches last time around and in the upcoming edition, a total of eight matches, including the final, will be played in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, players from other countries have been reluctant to visit Pakistan citing security concerns. Recently, Steve Smith, the tainted Australian cricketer, has agreed to play in the PSL but made it clear that he won’t be available to play the playoffs and the final if they are staged in Pakistan. A few other overseas players have also put forth the same demands surrounding their participation.

“Smith and these players have said that they will only be available to play in UAE,” a reliable source in the PSL secretariat was quoted as saying in The Times of India (TOI).

The draft for the forthcoming edition is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. A number of players have already changed their franchises and the buzz surrounding the event is on an escalation.

Tough test ahead for Smith

Back in March, Steve Smith was handed a 12-months suspension by Cricket Australia (CA) after he was found guilty in the ball-tampering scandal during the Test match against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town. His ban will end a few days before the commencement of next year’s World Cup in England and Wales.

He resumed his cricketing career by taking part in the Global Canada T20 in Toronto. The New South Wales-born batsmen thereafter played for Barbados Tridents, captained by Windies Test and ODI skipper Jason Holder, in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and did reasonably well with the bat in hand.

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