Ponting warns against removal of IPL salary cap

Jamaica, May 19 (UNI) Australian Test skipper Ricky Ponting has spoken out against the the proposed removal of the five million dollar salary cap in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

According to Ponting, the removal of the salary cap could be detrimental for the cash-rich Twenty20 competition.

''I have certainly heard there may be no salary cap next year but I'm not sure if that will be good for the IPL,'' Ponting told mediapersons here.

''The more I've thought about it, it might be detrimental to the whole set-up. We want good, competitive cricket with lots of international players playing good, close games against one another.

If they go ahead with no salary cap, a lot of that might go out the window,'' he added.

IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi had hinted earlier this month that the salary cap may be removed in the next editions of the BCCI-backed league.

If it does happen, the game's biggest stars could expect staggering contracts worth 14-15 million dollars which would overshadow the 1.65 million paid to Indian one-day captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the inaugural edition.

However, Ponting is convinced that the IPL will benefit world cricket if managed properly and continues to lobby for an exclusive window in the international cricket calendar.

''I really do think they can manage it well and have the IPL as something that is going to help the game, and not just be extra money coming in for the international players,'' he stated. ''What it has done already is attracted new audiences to the game and more audiences to the game. With more audiences, you are going to get more participation. With more participation you are going to get a stronger and better game with better players and better athletes.

''Overall it should make cricket a better thing.'' UNI XC AB AS1130