Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has been named the head coach of the Washington Freedom team for the upcoming second season of Major League Cricket (MLC 2024) in the United States.

Ponting signed a two-year contract with the Washington Freedom and will replace his former Australian teammate Greg Shipperd as the team’s head coach at the MLC.

Shipperd guided the Washington Freedom to a third-place finish in the inaugural season of the six-team T20 tournament. Ponting expressed his excitement about his new role and hailed Shipperd for his contributions to freedom in the first season of the MLC.

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As reported by ESPNcricinfo, Ricky Ponting said: “I'm extremely excited to be joining the Washington Freedom in 2024. Cricket is really on the rise in the US and I'm looking forward to being involved in Major League Cricket. I've been impressed by everyone involved at Washington Freedom.”

The two-time World Cup-winning captain added, “It's a bit surreal to be replacing my mate Greg Shipperd, but there's probably no one better to set up a successful franchise. I'm ready to build on his work as we look towards the coming season.”

Meanwhile, Washington team owner Sanjay Govil stated: “His understanding of our vision — to enhance the sport’s profile in the U.S. and to develop local talent — resonates with our mission.”

Govil signed off by saying, “Ricky's appointment is a pivotal step in our quest to not just participate in the MLC but to redefine it, offering unparalleled cricket experiences to our fans and creating a legacy of excellence in American cricket.”

(With ESPNcricinfo Inputs)