By Alex Gonzalez

Well, the Indian Premier League is a fledgling league and for now, it's not a league that has high priority, at least to some.   Ricky Ponting, a star cricketer who was slated to play this season for the Kolkata Knight Riders, has withdrawn from his commitment to play for them this season.

Ponting is the captain of the Australian captain of the Test, One Day International, and Twenty20 Cricket Leagues.  He is withdrawing from playing in India because he feels the responsibility of leading the Australian team to victory surpassed any obligation.

"My country comes first and there was no way I could give my all for Australia if I used the only two-week break we have to go and play in India," Ponting wrote in his column in the Australian newspaper.

If Australia had been winning their games, the team might not have needed him.  However, Australia lost their Test and One Day series games recently  against South Africa and could very well lose to New Zealand if he is not around to play.  Ponting wants to make sure Australia has a chance of winning and keeping Australia as contenders.  Aussie Vice-Captain Michael Clarke has suffered from a nagging back condition that could threaten his participation in Wednesday's first Test. Leg-spinner Bryce McGain, meanwhile, arrived late on the tour after oversleeping and missing his flight from Melbourne to Sydney.  The news of Ponting returning is as much of a team stabilizer as anything else.

"Obviously our priorities are to be in the best physical and mental shape we can be for the Australian side and it doesn't get any more important than the games we've got coming up," Ponting said.   No word yet from the officials who work with the Kolkata Knight Riders as it seems like they understood the importance and urgency of the situation.

While he would have been a big time addition to the Knight Riders, I guess in this situation you gotta understand where he's coming from.  It sucks that he's backing off his agreement to play, but I can't blame him for putting his country ahead of his Premier League team.  Do you think he made the right decision?  Drop us a comment with your thoughts.