The Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has ruled out retiring after the World Cup, defying the growing clamour for his removal.
Ponting denied a British newspaper report on the eve of their quarter-final match with India that he intends to quit international cricket and although he says he had tried to organise a contract in the English domestic season ahead of Australia's next Test tour in August.
Former Australian players and pundits have been urging Ponting to step down since the Test side's Ashes defeat to England on home soil in January, but he says he's enjoying his cricket as much as ever, and hopes to be playing for a few more years.
Ponting has managed a highest score of only 36 in five innings at the World Cup, and there were further calls for his resignation after their loss to Pakistan last weekend, their first defeat in the 50-over competition since 1999.
Ponting says the recent reports and speculation haven't really affected him.
