Melbourne Stars star all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has confirmed his participation in the UAE-based ILT20 competition at the end of the Australian Big Bash League.
Stoinis is currently playing with the struggling Melbourne Stars, who sit bottom of the table with just two wins from their seven games to date.
The Australian all-rounder, who will be pushing to retain his selection in Australia's white ball teams ahead of the ODI World Cup in 2023, and T20 World Cup in 2024, has signed with the Sharjah Warriors.
The tournament starts on January 13, however, he will only link up with the team once the Stars' season in the BBL is over - likely on January 25 with the Stars unlikely to make the finals.
It means Stoinis will play the second half of the tournament in the Emirate nation, with CricInfo reporting there is no chance he will be able to travel out before the end of the BBL regardless of the Stars' position and chances of making the finals.
Stoinis will join the likes of Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes and Mohammad Nabi at the club, while Chris Lynn is the only other Australian who has signed on for the tournament.
Stoinis said joining the Warriors was a 'massive opportunity.'
"It's a massive opportunity for me personally to notch up some crucial playtime at a tournament like this in the UAE ahead of a busy year that's going to be full of cricket," Stoinis said in a statement.
"These are extremely exciting times for international franchise cricket and I am glad to be playing a part of a team like Sharjah Warriors in the league's history-making inaugural edition."
