If reports are to be believed, Australian pacer Peter Siddle won’t be available for the T20 Blast, which is going to kick off next month, not because of some “personal reasons” as reported earlier. It is because he has been banned by the T20 league.
Believe it or not, he has been banned because he has featured in an Indian league that’s not approved by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The World Legends Pro League, earlier this year, was held in India’s biggest holiday destination, Goa, and Siddle featured in it.
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As per the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) charter, players playing in unauthorised tournaments can’t play in England for six months, which basically means the Aussie quick, presently plying his trade for Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), can’t be seen in action in the T20 Blast where he was set to represent Notts Outlaws.
Nottinghamshire had earlier given a totally different picture in this matter. According to them, the 41-year-old pacer wouldn’t play because of personal reasons. “We’re naturally disappointed that Peter won’t be able to join us this summer, as we were looking forward to having a player of his calibre and experience as part of our T20 squad,” Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket Mick Newell said in a statement.
“We’ll now focus our efforts on securing the services of a replacement for this summer’s competition,” he added.
But later, some big media outlets like Daily Mail and ESPNcricinfo reported the true reasons were totally different.
Peter Siddle has been impressive in the PSL!
Anyway, Siddle has been doing very well in the ongoing PSL. And he has been bowling really quick. For his age, it’s nothing short of extraordinary. The Pakistani media has praised him no end for bowling well as well as bowling quicker than many of their premium fast bowlers. Besides, he has been helping younger fast bowlers in the side to improve.
Siddle played 67 Tests, 20 ODIs and 2 T20Is for Australia from 2008 to 2019. After his retirement in 2019, he has continued to play domestic as well as franchise cricket. He has a big body of work, as one can see, and that makes him quite useful, not just as a player but also someone who can help youngsters grow.
Siddle is not the only player to be banned. Former England spinner Samit Patel, who featured in 6 Tests, 36 ODIs and 18 T20Is, has also been banned for the same reason.