Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has sustained an Achilles injury which has raised doubts over his coaching role with the national team.
Ponting had assisted head coach Justin Langer in his maiden assignment when Australia toured England for five ODIs and a T20 earlier this year. He was reportedly in talks with Cricket Australia to continue as assistant coach during the upcoming tour of the UAE where they will take on Pakistan.
Ponting is now set to miss the T20 leg of the UAE tour due to the injury he sustained while kicking a football during a commercial shoot. According to a report by ESPN, Ponting’s injury is set to affect his mobility for the next three to six months after he underwent surgery for the tear last week.
Ponting had assisted Langer during Australia’s tour of England.
Despite his injury setback, the former skipper is expected to remain in negotiations for future coaching stints with the Australian team.
The Australian team is set to take on Pakistan in two Tests followed by three T20s in their tour of the UAE with the first Test getting underway on October 7.
The two Tests will be the first time Australia will take the field in the format since their infamous tour of South Africa in March this year which was rocked by the ball-tampering saga.