LONDON, June 20:
Former Australian captain and one of the greatest batsmen of modern age, Ricky Ponting, will retire from all forms of cricket in October, and the Champions League Twenty20 tournament with Mumbai Indians will be his last competitive outing.
The 38-year-old Tasmanian retired from international cricket last summer.
Dynamic Sports & Entertainment Group, the marketing agency that represents Ponting has said that his last assignment will be the Champions League T20 campaign with Mumbai Indians, winner of sixth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), meaning he has already played his last game on home soil.
DSEG also confirmed that Ponting will play out his commitments with English county team Surrey and for Antigua in the Caribbean Premier League in July and August.
According to media reports, Ponting, a veteran of 168 Tests and 375 ODIs, felt it was the “right time” to quit the game though he is “enjoying cricket” as much as ever.
He also added that his body and mind are in “great” shape.
He will play in Surrey’s County Championship match against Yorkshire at Headingley starting on Friday.
There is also a possibility that he would get involved with commentary as early as this Australian summer, especially with Channel 9 and Channel 10 splitting the broadcasting duties across the domestic season. PTI AH
Although Ponting struggled in his final Test series, accumulating just 32 runs in three matches against South Africa, uncertainty about Australia’s batting line-up ahead of the Ashes had led to talk of a possible recall.
Shortly after arriving in England to join Surrey, Ponting had said, “I would never say never.”
However, he later clarified that he would not be coming out of retirement. He made 192 on his first-class debut for Surrey last month. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel