Tim Paine's playing career looks set to be over after the former Australia Test captain was not given a new deal by Tasmania.
Paine, 37, has not played a competitive game since April last year after he resigned as skipper on the eve of the Ashes due to a historic sexting scandal. He later took a break from the sport, before returning to do some coaching with Tasmania towards the end of the Sheffield Shield.
And it now appears as though Paine's time as a player has come to an end, with Tasmania not including him in their contract list for the upcoming season.
They have left the door open for Paine to remain involved with the team in a coaching capacity though, with Cricket Tasmania CEO Dominic Baker admitting in April there "may or may not be opportunities for him coming up".
He said: "This organisation has been a big supporter of Tim's and Tim has been a big supporter of this organisation. That hasn't wavered right through the last 12 months.
"We'll be here as an organisation to continue to support him but he's got to work those things [his future] out for himself. There may or may not be opportunities for him coming up."
Tasmania's new head coach Jeff Vaughan added: "Tim has been a wonderful leader in this program and I wish him all the best wherever [his future] goes, whether it's in the playing sphere, or outside of cricket. I think [he has] got coaching credentials, a coaching skill set."
Paine played a total of 35 Test matches for Australia, including 23 as captain. He also played 35 ODIs and 12 T20Is, scoring just one international hundred in an ODI against England in 2009.
While Paine has not been handed a new contract by Tasmania, they have signed Australia quick Billy Stanlake from Queensland.
