Shakib misses CPL this year
Sports Reporter
Former Australian skipper Steve Smith who has been serving a one-year ban is all set to replace Bangladesh ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in the Barbados Tridents lineup for the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), starting in the next month.
It is learnt from a reliable source that Shakib would perform Hajj this year and it would not be possible for him play in the CPL during the same time.
The Bangladesh Test and T20 captain will be unavailable for this years edition.
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 lineup, Tridents coach Robin Singh said.
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.
Bangladesh Cricket Board previously stated that two NOC (No Objection Certificates) will be granted to contracted players to play in overseas franchise leagues. According to BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury, Shakib had taken two NOCs, three months ago to play in two foreign leagues the IPL and the CPL.
This will be Smiths second outing in domestic T20 leagues since being handed a 12-month ban by Cricket Australia for his involvement in the Sandpaper Gate fiasco in South Africa
The World No.1 Test batsman made a return to cricket by playing in the Global T20 Canada League for Toronto Nationals. Smith scored 167 runs in 6 innings for the Nationals with two fifties.
David Warner, Smiths former vice captain who is serving a similar 12-month ban for his role in the scandal, will also be turning out in the CPL having replaced DArcy Short at the St Lucia Stars when the all-rounder was called up by Australia A.
