David Warner will return to action later this month by participating in the upcoming Global T20 Canada tournament. Former Australia captain Steve Smith was also named as a marquee player for the tournament alongside the likes of Shahid Afridi, Sunil Narine, and Chris Gayle. Smith was picked up by Toronto Nationals.

Warner has been roped in by Winnipeg Hawks in the player draft on Sunday (June 3). He will also play in the Darwin Strike League in July and will feature in two 50-over matches on July 21 and 22 in that competition.

Captain Smith and his deputy Warner were stripped of their positions and banned for a year by Cricket Australia, while Cameron Bancroft received a nine-month suspension as the trio were involved in the disgraceful ball-tampering incident which took place during Australia’s third Test against South Africa in March, at Newlands.

Bancroft will also play in the Darwin Strike League and will be available for the whole tournament. Both Warner and Bancroft will play Sydney grade cricket at the start of the next season. The former will play at least three matches for Randwick Petersham and Bancroft is expected to join Willetton.

The CA (Cricket Australia) sanctions prevent the players from making international, state, Big Bash League (BBL) appearance, but the governing body of the game in Australia has allowed the disgraced trio to play grade cricket and also permitted Smith and Warner to take part in domestic tournaments outside the country.

The West Indies is a sponsor of the Canadian league, which is scheduled to commence from June 28. The 19-day long tournament is the first ICC sanctioned T20 competition organized by an Associate nation in North America.