Glenn Maxwell's controversial $2.2 million per season stay with Kings XI Punjab is over, after the Indian Premier League team released the Australian star.
IPL teams faced deadline day overnight, making decisions on the retention and release of existing squad players before the tournament's player auction next month.
Steve Smith (Rajasthan) and Aaron Finch (Bangalore) were also released by their IPL teams, plus fellow Aussies Alex Carey (Delhi), Nathan Coulter-Nile (Mumbai), James Pattinson (Mumbai), Billy Stanlake (Hyderabad), Chris Green (Kolkata), and Shane Watson (Chennai, retired). Australian left-arm paceman Daniel Sams was traded from Delhi to Bangalore.
Maxwell had a dismal IPL last year, scoring 108 runs at 15.42 from 11 innings and failing to hit a single six. He was dropped for the final game, yet then returned in sparkling form for the Australian summer, inflaming accusations from Indian great Virender Sehwag that he'd treated the IPL as a "highly-paid vacation".
Smith was released despite being the captain last season.
"Steve has been a great player and great leader for the Royals, and we want to thank him for his contribution to the franchise," Royals owner Manoj Badale said.
Pat Cummins was retained on a massive $3.2 million contract by Kolkata despite struggling for much of last IPL season. David Warner (Hyderabad), Mitchell Marsh (Hyderabad), Chris Lynn (Mumbai), Josh Hazlewood (Chennai), Adam Zampa (Bangalore), Josh Philippe (Bangalore) and Marcus Stoinis (Delhi) were retained.
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