Smith is currently serving ball-tampering ban.
Disgraced Australian cricketer Steve Smith has received good news on Thursday (December 27), as the stylish right-hander has been cleared to play in the upcoming edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BBL) after franchises have withdrawn their objections on his participation in the tournament.
Earlier, the franchises had reservation over Smith's participation in the BBL 2018-19, as the Comilla Victorians signed up the former Australia captain outside the players draft, resulting the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had barred him from representing the franchise in the T20 event.
However, the BPL governing council has now made a change in the BPL policy, which allows the franchises to sign one player outside of the draft to make sure they manage the availability of players due to international commitments in the World Cup year.
Meanwhile, the BCB said in a statement that the franchises have withdrawn their objections for the greater interest of the tournament, and now Smith will be available for the Victorians in the upcoming BBL 2018-19, starting from January 5, 2019.
BCB spokesman Jalal Yunus stated, “We could not give him permission earlier as other franchises had protested his signing. Today four franchises emailed us separately saying that they have withdrawn their objections for the greater interest of the tournament.”
Noteworthy, Smith, who is currently serving ball-tampering ban, is expected to join the Victorians as a replacement player for Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik in the second week of January.
(With AFP Inputs)