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ustralian cricket great Ricky Ponting has joined entrepreneur Puneet Singh as co-owner of the Australian Champions, with David Warner named captain ahead of the new World Championship of Legends season in the UAE this October.
The announcement was made in Melbourne on 8 September at an event at Eureka 89, hosted by Channel 7 presenter Erin Holland.
Ponting said joining the Australian Champions would give him an opportunity to reconnect with former teammates and rivals in a different capacity.
“I’ll be able to work with alongside guys that I played with. I’ll be able to compete against players and owners and coaches from other teams in other countries that I’ve played against. So once again, it’s just sort of rounding out the circle of my cricket life, really, to be involved in a competition like this.”
Ponting, one of Australia’s most successful former captains and widely regarded as one of the country’s finest batsmen, said it was a “no-brainer” for him to come back for the team.
He joins Puneet Singh, an Indian entrepreneur and owner of Clapstem Entertainment, who has been a patron of the cricket league for several years.
Singh welcomed Ponting’s involvement.
“I mean, the great legend, Mr. Ricky Ponting as the owner of the team, I think he is one of the best cricketing minds in the world,” he said.
On the field, Warner will bring his trademark competitive edge to the Australian Champions as the team’s new captain. The team has been associated with an aggressive Australian style of cricket, and Warner said the players were “all fired up”.
Taking on the new role, Warner said that “he won’t be stern”, but that he was “really excited”.
“I’m going to be playing against guys that I’ve had some serious battles on the field with and that’s what I’m most excited about.”
The World Championship of Legends brings together former international cricketers representing seven teams: India Champions, South Africa Champions, Pakistan Champions, Australian Champions, West Indies Champions, England Champions and Bangladesh Champions.
The competition returns to the UAE in October.
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