Australian selectors chairman George Bailey believes David Warner will play the three-match T20I series against the West Indies despite the series overlapping with the International League T20 (ILT20) tournament where he has been signed as captain of the Dubai Capitals. Warner plans to participate in the ILT20, which starts on January 20, soon after the home and away phases of the Big Bash League (BBL) are over. The ILT20 runs until February 18, but the three T20Is against West Indies start on February 9 and end on February 13.
It was expected that Warner would miss those matches to take part in the full ILT20, despite still being on a Cricket Australia contract, and would return for the next series against New Zealand in New Zealand, starting on February 21 .
However, Bailey confirmed that Warner will be selected for the West Indies series and is expected to participate.
“He will be part of the T20 matches at the end of the summer and also in New Zealand,” Bailey told ESPNcricinfo.
Bailey opined that CA-contracted players, including Warner, are expected to play for Australia if picked, and will not be given NOCs to play in other competitions at the same time.
“I think that's the same for all our contracted players in Australia. If they are selected in a squad, then they are available. If not, it depends on what kind of domestic cricket responsibilities they have,” claimed the former Australia captain.
“I think so [Warner] had identified that as possibly one of the reasons why he has taken the decision to retire from one-day cricket, but we are still very excited about what he can bring to that T20 team and hope he adds another major trophy to his cabinet can add,” the former right-handed hitter added.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Topics mentioned in this article