CA divided over Ponting as captain after World Cup

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that as Ponting prepares to lead his team against India in Thursday's quarter-final in Ahmedabad, the 36-year-old faces a big a battle to hold on to his job. The daily quoted a CA official to say that there should at least be a discussion by the board on whether Ponting should lead the side to Bangladesh even if the selectors name the Tasmanian as captain for the tour.

"We need to be looking at the future. It's time for us to make a change," the source was quoted as saying.

Vice-captain Michael Clarke is likely to replace Ponting. Clarke returned to form late in the home summer and led his country with distinction in the ODI series against England when Ponting was nursing a broken finger.

Clarke, 29, is also being viewed by CA as having a strong rapport with younger fans, whom CA is desperate to win over. Ponting has been caught in a storm of controversies in the World Cup.  First he was reprimanded for damaging a TV screen in Australia's first game, and then publicly admonishing junior teammate Steve Smith.

"We're waiting for the next thing to blow up. We don't go a game without there being some issues with him," the official added. Selectors would wait until after Australia's World Cup campaign to name a squad for the Bangladesh series.