BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC- Prolific West Indies cricketer Dwayne Smith has pulled out of the Big Bash League (BBL), Australia’s premier T20 tournament, the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) has reported.
No reason has yet been given for Smith’s decision to withdraw and speculation has heightened in Barbados over the sudden move after he played in the final national Super50 trial match this week, the association’s website has reported.
Smith was due to leave Barbados earlier this week for London en route to Australia but has remained in Bridgetown after reportedly making two trips to the airport.
BCA’s website, BCAcricket.org. quoting well-placed sources, reported that Smith in one instance ‘dramatically asked airline officials to disembark the aircraft’ when it was on the runway at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA).
The BCA said that Smith had informed Perth Scorchers officials through his agent that he would no longer be playing in the Big Bash League this season.
The Big Bash League starts on Friday, December 20 and runs until Saturday, February 15.
Perth Scorchers’ first match is against Brisbane Heat on Sunday, December 22.
Reports also suggest that Smith has been included in the West Indies squad for the two-match Twenty20 International series against New Zealand in New Zealand on January 11 and 15.
Smith has represented Sussex, Deccan Chargers, Mumbai Indians and Barbados at T20 level.
In addition, he also played for New South Wales in the BBL in 2009-10.
