COLOMBO: Australia captain Ricky Ponting was once again at the heart of controversy on Saturday when he refused to walk despite clearly edging the ball to Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal in a World Cup Group A game.Ponting’s edge was not spotted by umpire Marius Erasmus and Pakistan fielders immediately referred the decision for review, appealing loudly and crowding around Erasmus.
Ponting’s batting partner Brad Haddin pushed two Pakistan fielders as they appealed to the umpire. Ponting was given out on referral and left the field while an umpire lectured the Pakistan fielders.
He walked away from the argument and then left the field when television replays showed a think edge had been caught by the wicketkeeper.
Ponting, coming to the end of a career as one of Australia’s most successful batsmen and captain, has always been well known for a pugnacious edge to his game, taking no prisoners as his world-beating teams have been on top.
At the age of 36, however, he is becoming involved in unsavory incidents while Australia’s global cricket domination declines.
He was forced to apologize earlier in the tournament over a temper tantrum that resulted in a warning from the International Cricket Council.
Ponting said reports that he smashed a television with his bat in frustration over his run out against Zimbabwe were greatly exaggerated, but added that he had gone too far.
”There’s a limit I guess (to how much) you can let off steam in a dressing room,” Ponting said.
During the unsuccessful Ashes series in Australia, Ponting was fined 40 per cent of his match fee after arguing with umpires over an unsuccessful video review during the second day of the fourth test.
Ponting was found guilty of breaching the ICC code of conduct after getting into a heated argument with match referee Ranjan Madugalle after Kevin Pietersen was given not out while on 49 by the video referee.
”Ricky’s actions as captain of his country were unacceptable,” Madugalle said. ”A captain is expected to set the example and not get involved in a prolonged discussion with the on-field umpires and question their decision.”
Haddin and Pakistan could also face disciplinary action after Saturday’s incidents.
Several fielders approached the umpire in a seemingly confrontational way that appeared similar to the way top footballers have been known to intimidate referees.
Ponting also hasn’t made friends among the smaller cricketing nations after saying they didn’t bring much to the World Cup.
The smaller ”Associates” will not take part in the next World Cup in 2015, which will consist of 10 nations, four fewer than at this tournament.
Kenya captain Jimmy Kamande said it was disappointing that Associate nations didn’t get more support from the likes of Ponting.
”What is disappointing is someone like Ricky Ponting saying that the Associates don’t need to be here.”
One of Ponting’s most famous temper tantrums came during the 2005 Ashes in England when his fury at being run out by a substitute fielder boiled over with him shouting abuse at England coach Duncan Fletcher.
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