Retired Test opener David Warner has been instructed to leave Dubai and return to Australia.
Due to his links with IPL team the Delhi Capitals, the 37-year-old has found himself in Dubai playing for the Dubai Capitals in the International League T20 in the United Arab Emirates.
But now Warner is required to again represent his country in the T20 series against the West Indies.
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Australian coach Andrew McDonald has confirmed that Warner is needed for the series as the team looks ahead to a T20 battle with New Zealand and the T20 World Cup in June.
While Warner has retired from Test action and 50-over cricket, he is hoping to be part Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign which will be co-hosted by the US and and the West Indies.
However, it was reported that he was keen to stay in Dubai and complete the series for the Capitals.
“I think most of our players that are going over there are due back on the 7th (of February) in preparation for the T20 in Hobart (against the West Indies),” McDonald said.
“So Davey will be a part of those plans.”
Australia will then go head to head with New Zealand in a T20 series starting on February 21 at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
McDonald said the team for the New Zealand games would look a little different from the team that would be picked for the West Indies.
“It’ll be a different squad,” he said.
“We’ll look to be at full strength for the New Zealand series, we’ve got six games before the World Cup, a lot of the World Cup planning is in place at the moment.
“The West Indies series will be slightly nuanced.”
But it is most likely Warner will be part of both squads.
McDonald said he was comfortable with the way the Test had been managed — which included moving veteran star Steve Smith up the order to fill the Warner void — since Warner’s final Test in Sydney.
“With a sample size of one, it’s always difficult to judge,” McDonald said.
“We’re comfortable with where it’s all landed.
“We feel as though that top six, and the way they complement each other, gives us the best opportunity to maximise (our scoring capacity).
“We’re very comfortable with ‘Smudge’ (Smith) at the top of the order, and seeing (allrounder) Cameron Green back out there in the field with ball and bat in hand was great.
“We’re optimistic they’ll work, and I suppose hindsight will tell us everything.”
