'Retiring' Ponting to play last game for Mumbai in October's Champions League T20

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting will reportedly play the last game of his career for Mumbai in Champions League Twenty20 tournament in October, after announcing his retirement from all forms of competitive cricket in the same month.

According to Ponting's management company DSEG, Ponting will play out his commitments with English county team Surrey and for Antigua in the Caribbean Premier League in July and August, Telegraph.com.au reports.

The report further said that although Ponting, one of Australia's greatest Test run-scorer, has played his last game on home soil, there is speculation that he would play for either the Melbourne Renegades or Melbourne Stars in next summer's Big Bash League.

However, the report added, the news officially ends any hope that Ponting would make a last-minute stand in the upcoming Ashes series.

Stating that he is still enjoying playing cricket, Ponting had said that he felt that it is the right time for him to finish playing, adding that with his body and mind in good shape, he is confident that he would enjoying the last few months left on his career before the next stage of life began.

Stating that he would want to hear from Ponting before believing the news, Australia's current Test captain Michael Clarke praised Ponting, saying that the former skipper has been an amazing player and has contributed a lot to Australian cricket.

Chris Rogers, brought into the Australian squad to replace suspended David Warner should he not be ready to play, said that Ponting would be missed from the game, adding that Ponting is one of the best players he has ever played with.

According to Rogers, Ponting had set standards that the rest of the players have to follow, adding that he has seen Ponting's talent again while playing against him and watching him dominate the game.

Ponting, who played a record 168 Tests for Australia, also played 375 one-day internationals in which he made an Australian record of 13,704 runs with 30 tons and played in three successful World Cup campaigns, twice as captain.

Renowned as a ferocious trainer throughout his career, Ponting has stated a desire to stay involved in cricket in different forms, with coaching on the cards, with speculations arising that he will also become involved with commentary as early as this Australian summer, the report added.