David Warner and Steve Smith are left out of Australia's cricket team for ODI squad for series against Pakistan - even though their cheating bans will be finished
- National selectors have opted to stick with the 15-man squad currently in India
- Warner and Smith will instead both play in the lucrative Indian Premier League
- The pair are banned from playing any form of international cricket until March 28
- Warner and Smith suspended after 2018 ball tampering scandal in Cape Town
Banned Australian cricket superstars Steve Smith and David Warner will have to wait until the World Cup in June to officially make their international comebacks, after the pair were overlooked for the upcoming one day series against Pakistan.
The former captain and vice-captain were handed 12-month suspensions for their respective roles in the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town last March - which saw batsman Cameron Bancroft use sandpaper to deliberately alter the shape of the ball during a hostile Test match versus South Africa.
Smith and Warner's international exile officially ends on March 28, with the duo available for the remaining two ODI matches against Pakistan in the UAE.
Former captain Steve Smith (pictured left) would be a welcome addition as Australia look to win the one-day cricket World Cup starting in June
Suspended Australian cricketer David Warner (pictured right) will return to the national squad for the 2019 World Cup
National selectors instead raised a few eyebrows by keeping faith with the 15-man squad currently playing in India.
The Pakistan series is the final opportunity for Australia to fine-tune their preparations ahead of their World Cup defence.
'Steve (Smith) and David (Warner) have both been working through rehabilitation from elbow surgery,' selection boss Trevor Hohns said in a statement.
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'It has been agreed the best pathway for them to return to play is in the Indian Premier League, a strong competition which features some of the world's best players.
'Cricket Australia will continue to liaise with both Steve, David and their IPL clubs to monitor progress as we build towards the ICC World Cup and the Ashes.'
The decision to overlook Smith and Warner was made in consultation with chairman of selectors Hohns, interim high performance manager Belinda Clark, medical staff as well as both players.
The 2019 World Cup will be jointly hosted by England and Wales from May 30 until July 14.
Australia take on Afghanistan in their pool opener in Bristol on June 1.
An emotional David Warner (pictured) after the magnitude of the ball tampering scandal hit home lastr year
Ex-captain Steve Smith (pictured) was equally contrite following the ugly scenes in South Africa last year
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