Global T20 Canada: Darren Sammy happy to have Steve Smith on his side

Darren Sammy wants Steve Smith's experience as a leader in Canada T20 League.

Darren Sammy says Steve Smith is an amazing player | Getty Images

Darren Sammy, former West Indian captain, has expressed on Tuesday (12 June) his delight to have Steve Smith on his team – the Toronto Nationals for the inaugural edition of the Global T20 Canada league, starting from 28 June to July 15 in Toronto. 

Smith’s cricketing career has become smeary with his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa and after which the right-hander was banned for 12-months by Cricket Australia.

 

Steve Smith can only participate in club cricket currently, however, CA has given him the permission to play domestic cricket in other nations as well. 

Meanwhile, Sammy admitted that Smith made a huge mistake but said he is an amazing player and captain and he is happy to have him in his team for the Canada T20 league, which will be Smith's first appearance in cricket post his ban in the Cape Town Test. 

As per reports in Reuters, Sammy told a conference call on Monday, “We all have done our fair share of mistakes in life, not just sports but in general. Obviously, Steve Smith is an amazing cricketer, someone who I would have on my team any day.”

Besides Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were also banned by CA for their roles in the ball-tampering scandal. Though the trio apologized for it, Sammy hailed former Australian captain for his decision to take all the responsibility upon himself during his confession to the Australian media. 

He further added, “Obviously as captain of a national team you have certain responsibilities that you have to own up to for the team, and I was commended by his efforts and he has taken responsibility for his actions on the field. I am just happy to have a player of such caliber on my team. He has dealt with his punishment for what happened in South Africa.”

Sammy signed off by saying, “All I want is his experience as a leader, his experience as a T20 player and his performances on the field that could help Toronto Nationals be a force to be reckoned with.”

 

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 12 Jun, 2018

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