Follow UsFormer Australia captain Tim Paine's future hangs in the balance after he was omitted from Tasmania's list of contracted players. Paine stepped down as Australia captain ahead of the Ashes following a 'sexting' scandal involving a former Cricket Tasmania colleague.
Paine had taken an indefinite mental break from the game and Pat Cummins was named Australia Test captain. A Cricket Tasmania spokesperson said that the wicketkeeper was not given a contract as he is still on mental leave.
Paine was accused by a Cricket Tasmania receptionist of sending sexually explicit messages four years ago and the cricketer said that it was consensual. He was cleared of an internal investigation in 2018 but his accuser Renee Ferguson filed a harassment claim against Cricket Tasmania.
Australia went on to win the Ashes at home under Cummins and then went on to register a 1-0 series win in the historic tour of Pakistan.
Paine took over as Australia captain after Steven Smith and David Warner received one-year bans for their involvement in the ball-tampering scandal in 2018. Since making his international debut in 2009, Paine has played 35 Tests, 35 ODIs and 12 T20Is for Australia.