Steve Smith’s bid to play BBL finals with Sydney Sixers rejected

Cricket Australia has sensationally rejected the Sydney Sixers’ application for Steve Smith to play Big Bash finals with the club.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 25: Steve Smith of the Sixers runs during the Big Bash League match between the Sydney Sixers and the Melbourne Renegades at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 25, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Evans – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

Cricket Australia has sensationally rejected the Sydney Sixers’ application for Steve Smith to play Big Bash finals with the club.

Fox Cricket can reveal Smith and the Sixers connected once the one-day internationals against New Zealand were postponed and shared an interest in the star returning to the franchise on Saturday night against Perth Scorchers.

The batting star even flew to Melbourne to link up with teammates believing the paperwork would be rubber stamped.

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When New Zealand cancelled the ODI tour Steve Smith sought to play for the Sixers. Picture: Mark Evans – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images

The Sixers had left a spot free on its list in case a big name international became available, completed all the relevant paperwork, but were shocked to learn their application had been flat-batted on Thursday afternoon.

It’s understood CA was prepared to accept whatever verdict the state CEOs came back with after a phone hook-up to decide on whether Smith should be allowed to take part in the finals series. It would appear the CEOs advised against CA changing its rules to allow Smith to play.

The primary reason for the verdict is that replacement players can only come from the local player replacement pool, which was created in the first few days of January to help clubs deal with spiralling COVID-19 cases.

Steve Smith has captained the Sixers in the past. Picture: Dean Lewins

Had the Sixers nominated Smith then to enter the local player replacement pool, any other club could have picked him up and he would have been obliged to play for them.

But at the time the Sixers, Smith and CA did not know the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand would be cancelled.

The Sixers are understood to be seething and Smith bitterly disappointed with Thursday’s events, which the club believes flies in the face of CA’s ‘fans first’ mantra.

Smith has captained the Sixers in the past and is one of the club’s most celebrated players.

Sixers captain Moises Henriques is due to speak to the media at midday on Friday.

If his team wins on Saturday night, it will host the final on January 28 at the SCG as it looks to achieve a historic three-peat.