Australia Star David Warner Unlikely To Participate In Inaugural Edition Of UAE's ILT20

Star Australia National Cricket Team opening batsman David Warner is unlikely to feature in the inaugural edition of the UAE T20 League, named the International League T20 (ILT20), as per a report in ESPNcricinfo, and negotiations are going on to get him back into the Big Bash League (BBL).

The UAE T20 League, which will be a 6-team tournament, is all set to begin next year and it will be a 34-match event as each team will be playing the others twice in the league, followed by four playoff matches.

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The first edition of the tournament was initially scheduled to take place in January and February 2022, but it was rescheduled. The tournament will be played between January 6 to February 12 before the Pakistan Super League. Talking about the upcoming edition of the BBL, which will be the 12th edition of the tournament, Cricket Australia have already announced the complete schedule and it is set to take place from December 13 to February 4.

Meanwhile, David Warner, who has not played in the Big Bash League (BBL) since 2013, doesn’t have a BBL contract and he will be available to play franchise cricket in January as the three-match ODI series between Australia National Cricket Team and South Africa National Cricket Team have already been cancelled.

There was a significant interest for him to play in the inaugural edition of the UAE T20 League, given his IPL franchise Delhi Capitals (DC) owns the Dubai Capitals franchise in the league. However, a report in ESPNcricinfo states that “a potential deal to sign Warner to the ILT20 is almost certainly off”.

Also, Warner’s manager James Erskine had already told the Sydney Morning Herald that they were having negotiations with Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) to have Warner participate in the BBL 12.

David Warner, Pat Cummins, Steve Smith Among Star Players Available For Franchise Cricket In January

Star Australia National Cricket Team players including the likes of Warner, Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, and Josh Hazlewood will be available for franchise cricket in January as the three-match Test series between Australia National Cricket Team and South Africa National Cricket Team will end on January 8 and Australia’s next international commitment is not until mid-February.

Just like Warner, star pacer Mitchell Starc has not played in the BBL for a long time and he last featured in the tournament in 2014. Also, Smith, Cummins and Hazlewood don’t have BBL contracts. Notably, left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc had already revealed that he won’t participate in franchise cricket in January as he wants to take a rest.

The top contracts in the BBL for the Australian players max out at roughly $AUD190,000 ($US132,000 approx.) and the decision has been made to offer contracts worth $AUD340,000 ($US236,000 approx.) to top overseas players. On the other hand, the top players in UAE T20 League are reportedly being offered $US450,000.

Also Read: 15 Australian Players Offered Big UAE T20 League Contracts To Abandon Big Bash League (BBL) – Reports

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