Daniel Sams chooses to play in the Hundred over Australia’s tour of South Africa

The money in franchise leagues has led to a difficult decision for an in-demand Australian all-rounder in the lead-up to the tour of South Africa.

Australian all-rounder Daniel Sams appears poised to turn down the chance to play for his country later this month in order to capitalise on the lucrative white-ball circuit.

But Sams says he still hopes to be part of the Aussie squad for next year’s Twenty20 World Cup squad.

National selectors are expected to next week release the squads for the white-ball tour of South Africa, featuring three Twenty20 internationals and five one-day internationals.

Sams, 30, has played 10 T20s for Australia, the last of which came against England in October, 2022 and has become a hot commodity in short-form cricket, winning the player of the year in England’s Blast T20 league after amassing 419 runs and 25 wickets.

However it’s expected Sams will be a footnote to the squad for the South Africa T20 series, which begins in Durban on August 30.

Sams is embarking on a campaign with the Trent Rockets in England’s Hundred competition, which only concludes on August 27.

Sams in action during a Twenty20 International in 2020. Picture: Getty Images

Having turned down a state contract from NSW, Sams is essentially a free agent who can choose which cricket he wants to play.

While he would not elaborate, Sams confirmed he had reached an unorthodox arrangement with selectors.

“I’m not I’m not gonna really divulge any of that kind of information. I’ll let them put out anything that they want to put out first. But basically, yeah, I was in the mix for that tour. And then there’s just a couple of logistic things that needed to be figured out. But that yeah, that’s all I’ll put out there,” Sams told CODE Sports.

Yet Sams said he was still determined to make the World Cup next year.

“I want to be a part of the Australian setup and definitely be a part of the World Cup,” Sams said.

“Obviously the one-day stuff, I haven't really been involved in that. And so for the (ODI) World Cup coming up (in October), that’s most likely unless there’s injuries, I probably won’t be a part of that. But definitely looking forward to the T20. World Cup. I’d love to be a part of that. It’s just there’s a few factors that need to be kind of figured out in that space.”

Sams said his situation typified the tension between international and franchise cricket.

Sams says the money in franchise leagues has made the decision to play for Australia difficult. Picture: Alex Davidson/Getty Images

“Financially, you could lose money, if you're playing international cricket and not going to franchise leagues, which is completely, that’s just the individual choice. And that is what it is. That’s up to the individual. So I think it’s going to be an interesting landscape to see what people decide to do what and when, even like with young gun players coming up what they decide to do.”

Deciding not to sign a NSW contract ended up being a straightforward call.

“It's been something I was thinking about for a little bit,” Sams said.

“When push came to shove and the decision was to be made. It wasn't really a hard thing for me to do. It was kind of just, it was a kind of a common sense decision.

“They're still providing support and if I need any facilities or coaching or anything like that, there have been great. But I just think with all the franchise cricket out there at the moment and where all my opportunities have laid and where the just the career path that has been put before me, I think it’d be silly for me not to go down that path.”

As revealed by CODE Sports, West Australian all-rounder Aaron Hardie has firmed for the South African tour after Cricket Australia opted not to release him for The Hundred.

Originally published as Daniel Sams chooses to play in the Hundred over Australia’s tour of South Africa