Banned Australian cricketer Steve Smith will make a return to International cricket ‘as soon as practical’, confirmed Cricket Australia thereby quelling doubts of his 2019 World Cup absence.
Peter Parks/ AFP
"We're talking about two great players. We're not talking about two really good players, they're two great players who, on paper, we'd be crazy not to have them in the team (for the World Cup)," said Australian coach Justin Langer in a press conference after the Sri Lanka Tests.
Smith is currently recuperating from an elbow surgery after suffering a broken elbow at the Bangladesh Premier League. However, his team are confident that the 29-year-old will make a recovery in time for the World Cup and the Ashes.
"Until the brace comes off we don't know for sure but all current opinion is that he'll then have about three and a half weeks (before being ready to play)," Smith's manager, Warren Craig told cricket.com.au while going on to add "The intent is that he will play in the IPL and then the World Cup and then the Ashes."
Smith and teammate David Warner’s bans officially end on the 29th of March, which means the duo will be available for selection for the final two ODIs against Pakistan in UAE before they head to the World Cup.
