Worcestershire confirm Steven Smith for T20

Steven Smith will be part of Worcestershire's Twenty20 squad after the county confirmed they have received the clearance certificate from Cricket Australia for the legspinning allrounder to take part in the Friends Provident Twenty20 competition, which begins on June 1 and runs intermittently until the final on August 14.

Worcestershire signed Smith, 20, in February, but had been waiting on clearance from CA before confirming his participation in the domestic Twenty20 trophy. It is still not clear just how big a role Smith might play, however, as Australia have a packed fixture list on their summer tour, starting with a one-day international against Ireland on June 17, and including five further ODIs, two Twenty20s, and two Tests until July 25.

"Steve has continued his fine development as a cricketer by becoming a regular member of the Australian one day and Twenty20 teams," said Steve Rhodes, Worcestershire's director of cricket. "We are delighted that he will be taking part in our Twenty20 campaign. How much will depend on Australian selection but at this stage he will be playing in the early part of the competition at least."

Smith made a name for himself in Twenty20 cricket when he was an integral part of the New South Wales team that won the inaugural Champions League title in India last October. He was also New South Wales' leading wicket-taker during the 2009-10 Big Bash tournament with seven wickets 10.28, and one of the leading wicket-takers at the World Twenty20 in the West Indies, with 11 victims at 14.81.

The Australian Selectors are expected to announce their summer squads early next week, allowing Worcestershire to confirm which matches Smith will be available to play in.