Steve Smith weighing up Pakistan Super League move
AUSTRALIA legend and current Islamabad United coach Dean Jones wants to bring Steve Smith to the Pakistan Super League but admits luring the banned star to the isolated nation will be easier said than done.
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STEVE Smith is facing the dilemma of whether to head to isolated nation Pakistan during his year of solitary confinement.
Banned Australian captain Smith has registered as a Foreign Platinum Player in the Pakistan Super League and Australia’s Dean Jones, coach of the premiership winning Islamabad United, is keen to sign him.
The duo have been in contact this week as Smith, who is serving a year ban following the ball tampering scandal in South Africa, mulls over whether he should play in a country Australian has not toured since terrorists attacked a Sri Lanka team bus in 2009 in Lahore.
The tournament runs from February 15 to March 19 and would be invaluable match practice for Smith before he returns from his year ban.
A quarter of the games are played in Pakistan with the majority in Dubai.
“Steve has said he won’t go to Pakistan and I won’t pick him if he won’t go to Pakistan but he has gone back and is considering all options,’’ Jones said.
Jones said he had visited Pakistan six times during his stint as Islamabad coach and had never felt threatened.
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“I have no problem at all going to Pakistan but it comes down to the individual. If you saw the level of security they have for us. It’s almost over the top but it means we don’t have a problem. As long as they have that level of security I don’t have a problem. If they drop it, I would be concerned.’’
Smith has already signed to play T20 tournament in the United Arab Emirates which starts on the same day as the Big Bash and Jones laments the Australian captain will not be playing domestic cricket is Australia next summer.
“I still cannot believe they are not allowed to play in the Big Bash during their bans. The BBL is screaming out for stars.
“I don’t understand how they can play elsewhere during that period but not in the BBL.’’
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