Former Australian skipper Steve Smith has given his conditional availability for the fourth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), insisting that he would not be able to travel Pakistan for the playoffs and final for the tournament. Apart from him, South Africa’s AB de Villiers has also limited his first-ever appearance in the PSL to just two weeks and that too apparently only for matches in the UAE.

Smith, who is serving a ban for a year for his role in the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal during a Test match against South Africa earlier this year, is allowed to appear in T20 leagues worldwide. His ban ends before the World Cup in England next year, and it is the first time the Australian batsman has given his availability for the PSL.

According to a reliable source of PTI in the PSL secretariat, besides some other top foreign players have also made it clear they wouldn’t travel to Pakistan for the last leg of the PSL featuring eight matches including the final in Karachi. The source said, “Smith and these players have said they will only be available to play in UAE.”

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The names of 371 foreign players and 311 Pakistani players will feature in the PSL players draft to be held on November 20th in Islamabad. Except for India, players from all the Test playing nations and associate member countries of the ICC will be featuring the players draft.

Many of the foreign stars will only be available for a small part of the PSL when they are free of national duty or after the conclusion of the Big Bash League in Australia. For example Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum and Australian opener, Chris Lynn will only be available for the league following the conclusion of BBL.

The PCB has once again told the franchises it is their responsibility to decide whether they want to sign on foreign players who are not willing to play in Pakistan. Talking about the same, a franchise owner said, “The onus has been put on us that we must convince our foreign signings to also be prepared to play in Pakistan.”

In a big boost for the PSL, the PCB has apparently already sold the tournament title rights for a booming 1.5 billion rupees for a three-year period a big increase on the previous sponsorship of one billion rupees.