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Peter Siddle has been barred from the T20 Blast after playing in an unsanctioned tournament, triggering ECB eligibility rules.
Peter Siddle has been withdrawn from this year's T20 Blast after being ruled ineligible under England and Wales Cricket Board regulations, despite initially signing with Nottinghamshire.
Nottinghamshire confirmed earlier this week that the 41-year-old would not feature in the competition, with director of cricket Mick Newell expressing disappointment at losing a player of Siddle's experience and indicating the club would seek a replacement.
Further details have since clarified the reason behind the decision. According to ESPNcricinfo, Siddle has been blocked by the England and Wales Cricket Board after participating in the World Legends Pro T20 League earlier this year.
The tournament, held in India, is not officially sanctioned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Under ECB rules, any player who takes part in what is classified as "disapproved cricket" is barred from domestic competitions in England for 12 months.
That ruling has directly impacted Siddle's eligibility for the T20 Blast. Samit Patel has also been ruled out under the same regulation.
Siddle, who played 67 Tests for Australia and took 221 wickets, retired from international cricket in 2019 after also featuring in limited-overs formats. In recent seasons, he has focused on franchise cricket and remains active across several leagues.
He has played the past two Big Bash League campaigns with the Melbourne Stars and is currently representing the Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League, where he is alongside Steve Smith.
Siddle has previously featured in England's T20 Blast with Essex and Somerset, as well as in the BBL with the Melbourne Renegades and Adelaide Strikers.