Ponting, who is also currently the head coach of IPL side Delhi Capitals, signed a two-year deal with the Washington Freedom, owned by Indian-American businessman Sanjay Govil.
Ponting, also a hugely successful former Australia captain, replaced compatriot Greg Shipperd at the helm of the Washington DC-based franchise.
The second season of the T20 League, to be competed among six teams, is set to be played in July, just a few days after the T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies in June.
“I’m extremely excited to be joining the Washington Freedom in 2024. Cricket is really on the rise in the US and I’m looking forward to being involved in Major League Cricket,” Ponting said in a statement.
When I was first approached, the first thing I did was actually get on the phone to Delhi and see if they had any issue with it,” Ponting was quoted as saying in ‘Sydney Morning Herald’.
“They (Delhi Capitals) are a small shareholder in one of the other teams, but they were fine. They had no issue with me at all, which is great.” Delhi Capitals co-owners GMR Group has stakes at another MLC franchise — the Seattle Orcas. Microsoft chief executive officer Satya Nadella is the other owner of the Seattle-based franchise.