Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting and his former teammate Justin Langer may miss the first Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. The match between Australia and India is scheduled to begin in Perth on November 22.
The potential absence of Ponting and Langer is due to their involvement in the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction. The auction is set to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25.
Ponting and Langer are currently coaches for IPL franchises Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, respectively. Their coaching commitments may necessitate their presence at the IPL auction, potentially clashing with their commentary duties for Channel Seven during the Perth Test.
According to a report by The Age, Australian assistant coach Daniel Vettori might also leave the Australian team early to attend the IPL auction. Vettori serves as the head coach for the Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL franchise.
Vettori’s potential departure presents a challenge for Australia, as his presence as assistant coach is considered crucial during the Test series against India.
Channel Seven secured a seven-year, AUD 1.5 billion broadcasting deal with Foxtel. However, despite this significant investment, the network may lose two of its prominent commentators, Ponting and Langer, to the IPL auction. The report suggests that Indian cricket authorities hold considerable influence in this matter.
Last year, Ricky Ponting also departed from the Perth Test match early to attend the IPL auction, while Justin Langer remained with the Australian team until the match’s conclusion.
"As of Wednesday, no decision had been made regarding whether Vettori would stay with the team through the entire Test or leave early for the auction," The Age reported.
This situation presents a dilemma for prominent figures like Ponting, Langer, and Vettori, who must navigate the balance between their international cricket commitments and their franchise obligations.
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