New Delhi: Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer face the prospect of choosing between their commentary job during the opening Test of the Australia vs India series and being the IPL mega auctions for their franchises.
The first Test begins in Perth on November 22 while the mega auctions will be held in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah on November 24 and 25.
Apart from having commentary contracts with Channel Seven, former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting and his long-time team-mate Langer are head coaches of Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, respectively.
Australian daily The Age reports not only Ponting and Langer, Australia’s assistant coach Daniel Vettori could also be in Jeddah as he is associated with Sunrisers Hyderabad.
“Channel Seven could be without Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer for parts of the Perth Test due to a clash of commitments, and Australia may lose a vital backroom coach for the start of the blockbuster Border-Gavaskar series in a potential stand-off with Indian cricket,” The Age wrote on Wednesday.
“Unless (Channel) Seven and Cricket Australia can protect their interests against powerful cricket authorities in India, Ponting, Langer and Australia assistant coach Dan Vettori will likely be in Saudi Arabia holding a paddle at the IPL’s mega player auction in Jeddah instead of being at Optus Stadium when the first Test reaches its conclusion.”
Channel Seven has an existing seven-year contract with Foxtel worth AUD 1.5 billion to broadcast cricket games in Australia. But it could still be powerless from preventing Ponting or Langer to be in Jeddah for the auctions.
Ponting, as Delhi Capitals coach last year, had attended the auctions held before IPL 2024, leaving his commentary stint after the third day of the Perth Test. Langer had stayed till the end of the match while Vettori completed Australia duties with Australia before attending the auction last year.
“As of Wednesday morning, no decision had been made on whether Vettori would stay with the team through the entire Test or leave early for the auction, according to a team source with knowledge of the situation,” The Age reported.
Commitments of Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer’s might clash as the first Test between India and Australia begins in Perth on November 22 while the IPL 2025 mega auctions will be held in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah on November 24 and 25. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
