Steve Smith & David Warner Cannot Play in IPL 2018: Rajeev Shukla

Steve Smith and David Warner have been banned from playing for Australia for 12 months.

File photo of Steve Smith and David Warner.

(Photo: BCCI)

IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla has said that Steve Smith and David Warner will not be able to play this year’s IPL following the 12-month ban imposed on the players by Cricket Australia. Smith and Warner are serving the ban for being involved in the ball-tampering incident in South Africa.

We respect the decision of the Cricket Australia. They have suspended Smith and Warner for 12 months. Keeping that mind, we have decided that these two players can’t play in IPL 2018.

Rajeev Shukla

Shukla expressed that the two franchises who will lose their players – Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad – will get an opportunity to look for replacements.

We will give an opportunity to both franchise to look for replacements. We have looked at the decisions taken by ICC and CA before taking our decision.

Rajeev Shukla