Former teammate of banned Test stars expresses his wish for their involvement in next season's Big Bash
Let Smith, Warner play in BBL: Watson
If Steve Smith and David Warner can "promote" the inaugural Global T20 Canada tournament, they should be allowed to do the same in the KFC Big Bash League, former Test allrounder Shane Watson says.
The ex-Australian captain and vice-captain are barred from playing in the BBL as part of their 12-month bans for their roles in the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal.
But the Cricket Australia sanctions don't preclude the pair from playing in domestic tournaments overseas and both have signed up to the Canada tournament.
The sanctions also allow Smith, Warner and Cameron Bancroft to play Premier Cricket for their respective club teams. Both Warner and Bancroft have signed up for the NT Strike League, which begins Sunday.
Watson is already on the record branding the penalties, which also include an additional 12-month leadership ban for Smith and a lifetime leadership ban for Warner, as "extreme".
And on the same day Smith marked his cricket comeback with a half-century for the Toronto Nationals, his former teammate questioned the logic of Australia's two most high-profile players helping boost another country's competition.
"The thing that just disappoints me about the whole situation is now Steve Smith and Dave Warner are over promoting other tournaments by playing in them," Watson said.
"I understand the rulings that happened at Cricket Australia, the 12-month bans and all the stipulations they put around that.
"But for them to have the opportunity to go and promote other tournaments, I'd prefer if they're going to do that and have access to do that (that) they have access to promote the Big Bash, for example.
"At the moment we've got a few world-class players and we'll continue to discover those but they don't just fall out of trees.
"That's why Steve and Dave are such an integral part to Australian cricket, especially in the shorter format as well with the World Cup coming up."
Bancroft's suspension lifts in December, meaning he'll be available for Perth Scorchers' BBL campaign.
Watson says he has no interest in heading to Canada, prioritising a break after the Pakistan Super League and Indian Premier League.
But at 37 he continues to defy age, on Friday re-signing with Sydney Thunder for a further two seasons under new coach Shane Bond.
Thunder also announced the signing of 25-year old paceman Daniel Sams.