The Washington Freedom has made a significant addition to its team by signing Ricky Ponting as coach, marking the most notable signing in the brief history of US Major League Cricket.

The former captain of Australia, who is a superstar, has agreed to a two-year contract and will take over for Greg Shipperd in the second season of the Twenty20 tournament.

Shipperd has resigned to prioritize his responsibilities as coach of the Sydney Sixers and the men’s state teams at Cricket NSW – the Freedom’s high-performance partner.

The Delhi Capitals’ current coach and well-known media analyst, Ponting, stated last week that he was discussing the possibility of joining Washington, but needed to figure out logistical details first.

On Wednesday morning, he was declared as the head coach.

Ponting stated that cricket is becoming increasingly popular in the United States.

I have been amazed by all the individuals associated with Washington Freedom. Although it feels strange to be taking the place of my friend Greg Shipperd, there is likely no one more capable of establishing a thriving franchise.

“I am prepared to continue building upon his efforts as we prepare for the upcoming season.”

Sanjay Govil, the owner of the Washington Freedom, stated that Ponting’s hiring would contribute to the growth of the league.

He stated that as we envision the future, it is evident that our goals call for a person with unparalleled reputation and knowledge.

“Ricky’s legendary status, characterized by his leadership, winning mindset, and commitment to nurturing talent, aligns perfectly with our goals.

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He shares our mission to improve the visibility of the sport in the US and cultivate local talent, showing a strong understanding of our vision.

“Ricky’s selection marks a crucial milestone in our pursuit to not only take part in the MLC, but to revolutionize it by providing unparalleled cricket opportunities to our supporters and establishing a tradition of excellence in American cricket.”

Before, Ponting was the coach of the Mumbai Indians in the IPL and has also been a part of the Australian team, serving as an assistant to former head coach Justin Langer.

He assumes control of a team in Washington that placed third in the ladder during the first MLC season. However, they were knocked out by MI New York, who went on to become champions.

Adam Zampa, Moises Henriques, and Aaron Finch were part of the Australian players who participated in the inaugural season of the league. In this season, four out of six teams received significant financial support from IPL franchises.

The second MLC starts shortly after the T20 World Cup final, taking place in June in the United States and Caribbean.

Source: theguardian.com