Veteran Australian opener David Warner is set to miss the upcoming limited-overs series against the West Indies as he prioritizes his commitment to the International League T20 (ILT20). Warner, who has been a formidable force at the top of the order for various franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL), including the Delhi Daredevils, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Delhi Capitals, has signed a deal with the Dubai Capitals. This deal will see him participating in the ILT20 tournament, which runs from January 20 to February 18, overlapping with the West Indies tour of Australia scheduled between February 2 and 13.
Warner is set to play BBL for Sydney Thunder following his last Test against Pakistan, though it is unclear whether he will be available for finals if Thunder qualifies. The Australian Cricketers’ Association’s chief executive said on Thursday that he expected Warner to apply for a No Objection Certificate to play in the ILT20.
“I think the short answer to that is probably yes,” Greenberg told SEN when asked if Warner would likely miss some home cricket.
“I know he’s pretty committed to the BBL. There’s no doubt in the next phase of Dave’s life he’s going to be looking to ply his trade where he gets the best return on his investment. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that, in fact I’m encouraging him to do that.
“There will be times where he’ll be looking to miss certain games and tours. That’s the sort of flexibility we’ve got to get our heads around. Some people won’t like that, but that’s the modern world of which we’re living in and we have to embrace it.”
The shift towards franchise cricket’s impact on the game is evident, with players like Warner making strategic decisions about their playing commitments. His absence from the West Indies series represents a significant instance of a player prioritizing domestic T20 deals over international duty, reflecting the evolving landscape of professional cricket.
