Dubai, Oct 30 (UNI) Former Australian skipper Steven Smith has pulled out of Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League starting from December 3 over growing concerns of players' burnout inside prolonged biosecure bubbles.
In an interview with News Corp as part of a promotional campaign for the Rajasthan Royals, Smith said from his Dubai bubble, "It's still early days with the bubbles. We don't know how long it's going to last for. There's an uncertainty there. It's just going to be about having open conversations with coaches, general managers, whoever, to ensure that people are keeping their head space in a reasonable place."
The IPL in the UAE is Smith's second back-to-back bubble experience, flying straight from one he was part of in England during Australia's limited-overs series.
Given that the home series against India starts on November 27, barely 14 days after reaching Australia, which includes a strict quarantining period as well, it is going to be a massive task for the players, mentally.
Earlier, South African batsman AB de Villiers also pulled out of tournament. The veteran batsman and his wife are expecting their third child.
De Villiers also said that uncertainties surrounding travel and conditions due to the Covid-19 situation played a part in him opting out for the season.
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