Ricky Ponting makes bold suggestion of axing Pat Cummins in favor of Cameron Green for Afghanistan clash

Australia's hopes of a semi-final berth rest in their hands, although a favor from elsewhere would be more than welcome right now. The defending champions head into their final Super 12 clash of the T20 World Cup needing a victory against Afghanistan with a more than handsome margin to topple England's net run rate. Given the prerequisite for their qualification to the next round, former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting made a bold remark, suggesting the omission of the Test and ODI skipper Pat Cummins from the playing eleven.

Ricky Ponting, who led Australia to back-to-back World Cup triumphs during his record-breaking captaincy stint, suggested that the home side needs to play fearless cricket against Afghanistan to ensure qualification to the semis. Ponting reckoned that bowling stalwart Pat Cummins could be sacrificed for the trailblazing all-rounder Cam Green in the playing eleven.

"If they are thinking about a quick going out, and this is going to be a tough decision for the selectors, but if they are thinking about that then maybe it is Cummins that goes out and Green comes in. There's been some negativity around around Pat, but these guys quite often are bowling all the hard overs. When you're bowling up front and bowling at the death, you've got to be expected to go for a few more runs," Ponting said in an interview at the MCG on Thursday.

There can't be any excuse as far as preparation is concerned: Ricky Ponting

Australia needs to win and needs to win big against bottom-placed Afghanistan to boost their chances of making it to the semi-final. However, a big win for England over the Asian champions Sri Lanka will dash their hopes. Despite being favorites to qualify for the semis, the Kiwis could yet be knocked out if they succumb to an unlikely defeat against Ireland and both England and Australia win their respective games.

Ponting felt that a failure to secure the semi-final spot will raise a few questions about the Men in Yellow as they were one of the favorites in the lead-up to the tournament. He reckoned the players can't give the excuse of lack of preparation as there has been a lot of cricket in the build-up to the tournament.

"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. No one gave Australia a chance in the last one over in the UAE, in conditions that didn't suit but then we're home in our home conditions that all of these guys have been brought up in and played a lot of cricket. There can't be any excuse as far as preparation is concerned," he added.