Steve Smith and David Warner should be allowed to play in Big Bash League, asserts Shane Watson

Watson has appealed to Cricket Australia to allow Steve Smith and David Warner to participate in the Big Bash League. Watson has argued that since the players had been given clearance to play in the Global T20 league and are allowed to partake in other T20 Leagues, they should be allowed to play in the Big Bash League as well. 

After Steve Smith and David Warner were found guilty in the ball tampering episode that took place in South Africa, they were refrained from playing any international and domestic matches for one year. Following Cricket Australia's decision to ban the duo, the players' respective franchises also banned them from the 2018 edition of the tournament. Watson believes that the punishment levied on them is quite harsh and they should be allowed to participate in overseas leagues particularly with the World Cup coming up next year.

“I understand the rulings that happened at Cricket Australia, the 12-month bans and all the stipulations they put around that. But for them to have the opportunity to go and promote other tournaments, I'd prefer if they're going to do that and have access to do that they have access to promote the Big Bash, for example,” Watson told AP.

“At the moment we've got a few world-class players and we'll continue to discover those but they don't just fall out of trees. That's why Steve and Dave are such an integral part to Australian cricket, especially in the shorter format as well with the World Cup coming up."