Cricket-CA under fire over Smith's absence from Sixers BBL game

FILE PHOTO: Cricket - Ashes - Fifth Test - Australia v England - Bellerive Oval, Hobart, Australia - January 16, 2022 Australia's Steve Smith reacts after losing his wicket to England's Mark Wood Darren England/AAP Image via REUTERS

(Reuters) - Former Australia captain Adam Gilchrist described Steve Smith's absence from the COVID-19-hit Sydney Sixers for their Big Bash League game on Wednesday as "ridiculous," with Cricket Australia (CA) coming under fire for not finding a way to let him play.

The challenger final in Sydney went ahead without Smith as CA acknowledged it needed to tweak its regulations about player eligibility during the pandemic.