Steve Smith was released by Indian Premier League side Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday, a week after causing uproar on the subcontinent by scratching away Rishabh Pant’s batting guard during a Test in Sydney.
Australia batsman Smith, 31, was captain of the Royals but has been replaced by Sanju Samson.
It also emerged on Tuesday that Smith’s £100,000 contract for the delayed Hundred competition is under threat, after Welsh Fire offered Jonny Bairstow one of the top-bracket slots belonging to Smith and Mitchell Starc.
The England trio of Jofra Archer — the IPL’s reigning MVP — Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler have all been retained, but their international colleague Tom Curran was released ahead of next month’s auction.