Former Test captain was the overall No.2 pick behind a fierce rival and fellow ace batter
Smith snapped up in T20 draft
Steve Smith will see out the final weeks of his 12-month ban in the UAE after he was snapped up in last night's Pakistan Super League player draft.
Smith was picked at No.2 by the yet-to-be-named 'Sixth Team' – formerly Multan Sultans – in the Platinum category that will see him paid between AUD $193,000 and $277,000 for the month-long tournament starting February 14.
The competition concludes on March 17, 12 days before Smith's suspension ends after the Cricket Australia Board yesterday rejected the Australian Cricketers' Association's submission for the bans handed to Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft be reduced.
Smith is one of three Australians in the PSL, alongside 'Sixth Team' teammate Dan Christian and evergreen Quetta Gladiators allrounder Shane Watson.
Despite Smith's profile and extraordinary talents with the bat, former South Africa captain AB de Villiers was the overall No.1 pick.
De Villiers was selected by Lahore Qalanders and like Smith was bought from the Platinum category – the highest-paid group in the draft.
Other notable selections in the draft included ageless allrounder Shahid Afridi, who will join Smith in the unnamed team that is yet to be purchased, while former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq was picked up by Peshawar Zalmi having backed out of a deal to be a mentor for Islamabad.
England Test great Ian Bell is set to join Misbah at Islamabad United who will be looking to defend the title they won in 2018.
As Smith is ineligible to play international and Australian domestic cricket, the 29-year-old has been playing NSW Premier Cricket for Sutherland and various T20 tournaments around the world.
He spent the winter in Canada and the Caribbean playing in their respective T20 leagues, and was expected to feature in the UAE's T20X league next month, but that competition has been cancelled.