Ponting joins IPL

Australia captain Ricky Ponting has become the latest high-profile player to sign up for the Indian Premier League cricket, leading a host of his compatriots in committing himself to the competition.

Ponting is one of a host of baggy greens stars to join what is an increasingly all-star cast for the Twenty20 tournament which begins in April.

Joining Ponting are his vice-captain Adam Gilchrist and fellow internationals Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Brett Lee, Mathew Hayden, Nathan Bracken, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Jason Gillespie and Cameron White.

IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi (below) said: “We have great pleasure in announcing the induction of some of the finest talent from the world one-day champions Australia.

“I am sure that the cricket-loving public of India would cherish the opportunity to see the world champions turn out for their local teams.

The induction of the prodigious Aussie talent, I am sure, will add a whole new dimension to the cricket that it played in the Indian Premier League.”

The latest raft of signings will join a cosmopolitan playing staff including retired stars Shane Warne, Justin Langer and Glenn McGrath of Australia, New Zealand’s Stephen Fleming and Daniel Vettori, Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene and Sanath Jayasuriya and Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs of South Africa.

West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul will also take part while Pakistan duo Mohammed Yousuf and Shoaib Akhtar will be joined by team-mate Shahid Afridi who also signed on Tuesday alongside Proteas’ batsman Loots Bosman.