Peter Siddle, Samit Patel banned from T20 Blast after playing in unapproved Indian league

Former Australia fast bowler Peter Siddle and former England cricketer Samit Patel have been banned from playing in the upcoming edition of the T20 Blast tournament in England after participating in a 'disapproved' league for retired players in Goa.

According to ECB regulations, players become ineligible to play county cricket if they have featured in any "disapproved cricket" in the last 12 months before the start of a season.

Siddle and Patel both plied their trade in the World Legends Pro T20 League in January-February, 2026, a league not sanctioned by the BCCI (the host board).

Siddle was all set to play for Nottinghamshire as an overseas player. However, his deal now stands cancelled due to ‘personal circumstances.’ Nottinghamshire's director of cricket, Mick Newell, expressed his disappointment at Siddle’s unavailability and said that they will look to find his ideal replacement soon.

Nottinghamshire are also likely to be without their other overseas player for the initial stages of the upcoming season, as George Linde was recently signed as an injury replacement by the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). If LSG make it to the playoffs of the IPL 2026, Linde will miss the first few games of the tournament.

T20 Blast to begin on May 22

On the other hand, Patel has been out of contract after leaving Derbyshire at the end of the last edition of the Blast. The all-rounder was in search of a new county, but now won’t be featuring in the tournament after the ECB’s directive.

Patel and his former England teammate Ravi Bopara were the only two players to have featured in every edition of the T20 Blast since its inception in 2003.

However, even Bopara won’t be playing in the tournament, having retired from county cricket to pursue coaching and media opportunities. The T20 Blast 2026 will begin on May 22 with the opening fixture between Middlesex and Kent.