The 22-year-old New South Wales' all-rounder had initially boycotted the IPL player’s auction on February 4, but he has sorted out his differences with the Board of Control for Cricket in India, and has agreed to play for the Sahara based IPL franchise, the Pune Warriors this season.
"Delighted to be joining the Pune Warriors for the IPL this year," said Smith, on a social networking website.
Well-placed sources from inside the franchise have revealed that the deal is almost through, and a formal signature is all that is left. Smith, a hard-hitting right-handed batsman and a handy leg-spinner, played for the now defunct franchise, the Kochi Tuskers Kerala last year. However, he missed the season with an injured ankle that needed surgery. This season he was the first Kochi player up for auction, but no one prized him away.
Smith had an impressive Big Bash League stint with the Sydney Sixers earlier this year, where he ended the season on a strike rate of 130.70. He also claimed six wickets at a bowling average of 21.50, and an economy-rate of 8.06 per over.
Meanwhile, the Sahara based IPL franchise has also signed Sussex all-rounder Luke Wright for the 2012 season. Wright’s deal with the Pune Warriors means he will be unavailable to his English county, for at least their first six County Championship matches.
"I'm delighted to be going to the IPL with Pune Warriors,” Luke Wright said on Twitter. “I'm disappointed to miss the start of the Sussex season but it's an amazing opportunity few could turn away," he added further.
The IPL rules allow franchises to sign four foreign players for the season and the Warriors have now filled up all the spots. The other two imports for the upcoming fifth edition are Australian all-rounder James Hopes, and swashbuckling West Indies batsman, Marlon Samuels.
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