BARBADOS: Steve Smith will link up with Barbados Tridents for the Caribbean Premier League 2018, it was announced on Wednesday, 25 July.
According to ICC, Smith replaces the Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who is no longer available for selection.
Robin Singh, the Barbados coach, is ecstatic that someone of the stature of Smith is available to soften Shakib’s loss. “It is a huge blow to lose Shakib for the tournament but in Steve Smith, we have a truly world-class replacement who can help to bring power to our batting line-up,” said Singh, the former India all-rounder.
“As a man who has played cricket at the highest level all over the world, we are very confident that Smith will be a big success with the Tridents.”
This will be the latest step in Smith’s return to cricket, since being suspended by Cricket Australia (CA) from its national and domestic tournaments for his role in the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town in March.
Smith played six matches for Toronto Nationals in the Global Canada T20 league in July, scoring 167 runs at 33.40 and a strike rate of 119.28.
David Warner, also banned by CA over the same incident in South Africa, took part in the event in Canada as well, playing eight matches for Winnipeg Hawks. Warner has signed up St Lucia Stars in the upcoming edition of the CPL.
The tournament will get underway on 8 August, with Barbados beginning their campaign against Guyana Amazon Warriors on 11 August. The tournament will go on till 16 September.
