Ponting ruled out from T20 World Cup following a hamstring injury

Johannesburg, Sep 19 (UNI) Australia's dream of capturing the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup received a major setback, after Ricky Ponting suffered a hamstring injury and is now facing the prospect of missing out on the rest of the tournament.

Ponting got injured during Australia's Super Eights encounter against Pakistan yesterday, which the Aussies lost by six wickets.

Adam Gilchrist, who captained the side in Ponting's absence, said his skipper had a left hamstring strain and would be assessed again in the next couple of days.

Ponting is certain to miss Australia's do-or-die match against Sri Lanka tomorrow in Cape Town and even if the world champions make it to the last four, the skipper is unlikely to take the field in the semi-finals on September 22 and final on September 24.

The fitness assessment will be crucial as Australiawill immidiately leave for India to play a seven-match ODI series and a one off Twenty20 match with Australia's first match slated for September 29 in Banglore.

Gilchrist, however, dismissed suggestions that his team was not fully focused on the tournament despite a very limited preparation.

''Are you taking this tournament seriously? We are. I'm not sure what the perception is, but we are,'' Gilchrist said.

He also admitted that the different playing conditions at Wanderers may have played a part in Australia's modest batting after its first three matches were in Cape Town.

''The pitch was a little bit slow and the ball was catching in the wicket a fraction, but we've had a slowish wicket in Cape Town too. They're definitely totally different conditions just by way of the ground and outfield and the way the ball travels it seems.

''But all teams are moving around in this tournament from ground to ground so it's no excuse. We'll walk away from this and work out where we went wrong, and hopefully get it right again going back down to Cape Town,'' he added.

UNI