Former Australia cricketers Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer are expected to give their commentary duties a miss during the first Test of the BGT 2024 (Border-Gavaskar Trophy) series between Australia and India in Perth to attend the IPL 2025 mega auction.
The first of the five-Test series between Australia and India will begin in Perth on November 22 and the IPL 2025 mega auction is scheduled on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudia Arabia.
Ricky Ponting, who is the head coach of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) franchise, and Justin Langer, who is the head coach of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), are reportedly set to give the Test a miss to be in attendance for their respective franchises in the all-important IPL auction.
“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,” Australian newspaper ‘The Age’ reported.
Not only Ponting and Langer, but Daniel Vettori, who is the assistant coach of the Australian team, might also miss parts of the Perth Test, as he is the head coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) franchise and is needed at the auction table on November 24 and 25.
“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," the paper reported.
Many are concerned that Ponting and Langer will still miss the final three days of the Perth Test despite Channel Seven's seven-year, AUD 1.5 billion arrangement with Foxtel to broadcast the match in Australia.
Langer remained till the end of the Perth Test last year, whereas Ponting, who was coaching the Delhi Capitals at the time, left after the third day to go to the auction. Vettori attended the auction last year, which took place two days after the conclusion of the Perth Test, after completing his duties with Australia.
“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.
(PTI inputs)
