Symonds set to return for Queensland

Andrew Symonds has decided to return to competitive cricket by turning out for Queensland in Twenty20s, three months after his Cricket Australia contract was canceled for an off-field misdemeanour .

Symonds, 34, held talks with Queensland Cricket CEO Graham Dixon and expressed his desire to play for the team in the summer.

"I'm going to play again," he said. "I've decided I'm going to play Twenty20 cricket for Queensland and I'm available if they want me for the other forms of the game. I came to the decision about two weeks ago. I went in and saw Graham Dixon and told him I was keen to come back. They [Queensland Cricket] were pleased with that decision.''

In early June, Symonds was sent home from England during the World Twenty20 for breaking a ban on alcohol consumption imposed by Cricket Australia. But Queensland Cricket stood by him and Dixon had said Symonds would be picked in the squad if he wanted to play.

Symonds did not believe he would making an international return any time soon.

"If you can't sit in the pub and watch a football game over a beer and if that is upsetting team rules and harmony, there's no place for me anymore," he said.

Symonds was not handed a central contact with Queensland for the 2009-10 season, and will therefore be paid on a per match basis. He will secure a lower tier contract deal if he plays a specific number of matches for Queensland.