T.O. mate’s cool with banned Aussie
West Indian Sammy welcomes chance to play with disgraced Smith
West Indies cricket star Darren Sammy says he has no problem playing with disgraced former Australia skipper Steve Smith in the Global T20 Canada tournament. Sammy and Smith were the top two players drafted by the Toronto Nationals, one of six teams slated to take part in the event in King City north of Toronto, June 28 to July 15.
“Look, we all have done our fair share of mistakes in life and not just sports,” Sammy told a media conference call Monday. “Obviously Steve Smith is an amazing cricketer, someone I would have on my team any day.
“Obviously as captain of a national team you have certain responsibilities that you have to own up for the team. And I was commended by his efforts in taking responsibility for his actions on the field. Look, we are all not saints. I’m just happy to have a player of such calibre on my team.”
Sammy said he had no plans to bring up the matter with Smith, saying he just wanted the Australian’s experience, leadership and skills on the field.
Smith and fellow Aussie cricketer David Warner, the third pick of the Winnipeg Hawks, have been banned by Cricket Australia for a year for their involvement in a high-profile ball-tampering scandal in South Africa in March. Along with Cameron Bancroft, who was suspended for nine months, the two are banned from all international cricket and domestic cricket in Australia but can still play at the club level elsewhere.
Sammy, a native of St. Lucia who has never been to Canada, said the Canadian competition is an “amazing opportunity” to showcase the sport.
“I’m really really excited about the tournament and I really hope it’s a success.”
Sammy, 34, captained the West Indies to victory in the 2012 ICC World Twenty20.