IPL 2018: Heinrich Klaasen replaces Steve Smith in Rajasthan Royals team

South African wicket-keeper batsman Heinrich Klaasen has been officially approved by the BCCI as the replacement for Steve Smith in the Rajasthan Royals team for the upcoming edition of Indian Premier League.

Smith has been barred from this year's IPL after Cricket Australia banned him for one year for his involvement in the ball tampering controversy during the third Test match against South Africa in Cape Town.

"The wicket-keeper batsman was picked for INR 50 lakh from the Registered and Available Player Pool (RAPP) list," BCCI stated in a media release. The 26-year-old Klaasen recently made his international debut against India in 50-over format and picked up the Man of the Match award in his second ODI. 

He then made his debut in the shortest format of the game in the following three-match T20I series. He has so far played four ODIs and 3 T20 Internationals.