New Delhi, Nov 13 (IANS) Australia assistant coach Daniel Vettori may miss the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting in Perth from November 22, as the first match of the series is scheduled to be played in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on November 24 and 25. This is clashing with the mega auction of IPL.
Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Vettori will likely be in Saudi Arabia to attend the IPL mega player auction in Jeddah instead of being at the Optus Stadium at the conclusion of the first Test, reports Australian newspaper ‘The Age’.
For Australia, the potential absence of Dan Vettori is particularly worrying. Vettori is an important member of the Australian coaching setup and is head coach Andrew McDonald’s trusted deputy.
The report quoted its source as saying, “No decision has been taken on whether Vettori will remain with the team for the entire Test or leave early for the auction.
Apart from Vettori, former Australian cricketers Ricky Ponting, who is the head coach of Punjab Kings, and Justin Langer, who is the head coach of Lucknow Super Giants, may miss their commentary duties for the first Test due to the IPL 2025 auction.
Last year, when Ponting was at the helm of Delhi Capitals, he went on to participate in the auction on the third day of the 2023 Perth Test. However, Langer stayed until the end of the Test, while Vettori completed his duties with Australia before leaving for last year’s auction, which was held two days after the Perth Test.
–IANS
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