• Home
  • Cricket News
  • Steve Smith Likely To Be Ignored In T20 World Cup Squad Despite Nz Series Selection

Steve Smith Likely To Be Ignored In T20 World Cup Squad Despite NZ Series Selection 

image-lslgs0eySteve Smith in action during the 2023 World Cup (AP)

Steve Smith, a veteran of nearly 250 T20 matches including 65 internationals, might well miss Australia’s T20 World Cup 2024 crusade in West Indies later this year. As per recent reports, his selection in Australia’s final 15-player squad is uncertain at the moment, even though the cricketer is lined up to feature in a three-match T20I series in New Zealand.

Earlier this month, Smith scored a run-a-ball 79 against West Indies in one of the ODIs of their three-match home series. The 34-year-old played the last of his 65 T20Is for Australia back in November 2023 against India, i.e. shortly after winning the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Steve Smith’s T20 World Cup 2024 place in doubt

Steve Smith’s place in Australia’s squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 is currently in doubt, as reported by several media outlets off late, including the Daily Telegraph. Cricket Australia is expected to announce their final squad for the tournament within the next couple of months.

Interestingly, Steve Smith also found no takers at the IPL 2024 auction last December, thus becoming one of the most prominent unsold players of the bidding event.

Smith, a veteran of 244 T20 matches, has tallied 5,282 runs in the format at an average of over 31, with 24 half-centuries and three tons to his name. The right-handed batter scored over 1,000 of those in T20Is for Australia from 53 innings.

As of now, the batting legend is selected in Australia’s 15-player group for their upcoming three-match T20I series against Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand. The first of the three matches will be staged at Wellington’s Sky Stadium on February 21.