Ricky Ponting expects the Indian Premier League will ultimately help cricket © AFP Enlarge

Ricky Ponting believes dumping the Indian Premier League's salary cap could be detrimental to the competition. Talk has begun about stopping the limit, which is currently at US$5million per team, but Ponting, who played for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening stages of the event, said the move might make the tournament less competitive.

"I have certainly heard there may be no salary cap next year, but I'm not sure if that will be good for the IPL," Ponting said in the Australian. "The more I've thought about it, it might be detrimental to the whole set-up.

"We want good, competitive cricket with lots of international players playing good, close games against one another. If they go ahead with no salary cap, a lot of that might go out the window."

One window Ponting wants is for a break in Test and one-day internationals so the IPL can be held without interruptions. "I really do think they can manage it well and have the IPL as something that is going to help the game, and not just be extra money coming in for the international players," Ponting said. "What it has done already is attracted new audiences to the game and more audiences to the game ... Overall it should make cricket a better thing."