Steve Smith and David Warner are free to use next year’s Indian Premier League to launch their World Cup preparations after being welcomed back by their franchises.

Left out of last year’s tournament amid the fallout of the ball-tampering saga, the pair will return to the competition with Smith retained by his Rajasthan Royals and Warner the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Coincidentally, next year’s tournament is due to start on March 29 - the same day Smith and Warner’s Cricket Australia enforced 12-month suspensions end.

Prepare for a summer of cricket like you’ve never seen before. Follow Australia’s new home of cricket on Facebook,Twitter,Instagram and catch all the highlights, features and interviews on the 7Sport app.
While that ban has no impact on their ability to play in the IPL, it could mean they are able to turn out in the lucrative tournament before other Australian domestic players.

CA confirmed this week contracted players would not appear in the competition until their national and Sheffield Shield duties are complete - with the domestic final set for March 28 until April 1.

Australia are also due to play a three-match one-day series against Pakistan in late March, which is likely to conclude in the final week off the month.

There remains some chance Warner and Smith could be available to make their international return in at least part of that series, depending on dates.

Regardless, Smith and Warner will be unable to play the IPL in its entirety given CA has scheduled a World Cup training camp for the start of May.

Players were told on Thursday they must also make themselves available for that camp, well before the IPL final on May 19.

Players who miss any games in the big-money tournament take a hit to their overall salary.

Aussie short-form captain Aaron Finch has revealed some brutally honest feedback from team-mates has forced him to rethink his leadership style.

The T20 league will be one of several Warner and Smith have played since their bans last March, including in Canada, Darwin and the Caribbean.

Smith was also signed to play in a UAE league this summer which runs concurrently with the Big Bash, however that competition was cancelled on Friday due to an inability to sell franchises.

Meanwhile fellow Australians Chris Lynn (Kolkata), Billy Stanlake (Hyderabad), Andrew Tye (Kings XI Punjab) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (Royal Challengers Bangalore) will also play in next year’s IPL after being retained by their clubs.

Allrounder Marcus Stoinis also joins them there after he was traded from Kings XI Punjab to Bangalore.

However Mitchell Starc (Kolkata), Aaron Finch (Kings XI Punjab), Glenn Maxwell (Delhi Daredevils) Pat Cummins (Mumbai Indians) and D’Arcy Short (Rajasthan) were all released by their clubs.

Both Lynn and Maxwell’s deals were worth near the $1.75 million mark, and released players can make themselves back available for next month’s auction.

Starc has already indicated he is unlikely to nominate, as the left-arm quick prepares for a gruelling five-month tour of England for the World Cup and Ashes.