Australia batter Steve Smith on Friday (January 21) wasn't allowed to play for Sydney Sixers in the knock-outs of Big Bash League (BBL 11). The star batter couldn't feature in the qualifier against Perth Scorchers after "other states voted against allowing Smith to play," according to cricket.com.au.

Smith's commitments for the national team had made him unavailable for the tournament and he wasn't on the franchise's playing list. But he wanted to play the knockouts for Sydney after Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand got canceled.

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However, the CA barred Smith from appearing for Sixers due to a rule placed two weeks ago regarding replacement players for squads hit by Covid-related withdrawals.

"CA introduced a local replacement player pool (LRP) from which all franchises must pick any fill-in – had Smith been placed in that pool, he would have been available to any BBL franchise," a release by cricket.com.au read.

Sixers captain Moises Henriques expressed was disappointed with the decision. He called Smith “one of the best players in the world” and that IPL franchises spend a high amount to have him in their side. 

“You have got a former Australian captain, one of the best players in the world. You have got IPL teams who pay multi-million dollars just to have this guy as part of their franchise. Advertising, bums on seats, eyes on TVs – I mean, you do the maths,” Henriques said, as quoted by the website.

"And we're saying no because of a rule that is two weeks old in some COVID bubble hub. To me, I don't get it.

"We're in the top two without him ... so I have got absolute belief in our domestic talent and local talent to do the job. I think it's sad for cricket, that's all."

Smith was recently part of the Ashes 2021-22 series which Australia won by 4-0 at home.

(With cricket.com.au Inputs)