Australia can't have any excuse as far as their preparation for T20 World Cup 2022 is concerned: Ricky Ponting

Hosts and defending champions Australia are on the cusp of an elimination from the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 with their forthcoming fixture proving to be a must-win contest against Afghanistan. Former Australia cricketer and World Cup winner (1999, 2003, 2007), Ricky Ponting voiced strongly on the national side having ‘no excuses’ if an elimination is followed with the conclusion of the Super 12 fixture.

The Australia batting great was baffled with the 2022 squad unable to up their game despite playing the showpiece event in favourable conditions in home.

"If they don't make it through, there'll be some questions asked I'm sure, because I had them in the top three coming here. I thought the final would be between two of Australia, India and England. The reason I say that was no one gave Australia a chance in the last World Cup over in the UAE in conditions that didn't suit. But then, they're currently in home conditions, and conditions that all of these guys have been brought up in and played a lot of cricket,” said Ponting.

"I thought that everything was just sort of aligning itself quite nicely for the Aussies to make it through. But even their form coming in was not great either with the lead-up that they had, and they did play a lot of T20 games coming here. So, there can't be any excuse as far as preparation is concerned,” he added.

Australia’s must-win game against Afghanistan

In order to avoid an elimination, Australia will be eyeing for a win against Afghanistan in their forthcoming fixture. With their title defence on the line, a victory in the must-win contest will see the side getting closer to a semi-final berth but are still dependent on England’s and New Zealand’s result.

If both sides win their respective fixtures, Australia will be knocked out of the T20 World Cup 2022, owing to an inferior net run rate.