Bushfire Cricket Bash: Dhoni, Tendulkar could play under Warne or Ponting in a match

The Australian duo of Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne are hoping to convince Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni to join their teams that will have legends of the game to play in next month's bushfire relief cricket match.

It is understood that Ponting and Warne have decided to come out of retirement to lead the sides in Cricket Australia's Bushfire Cricket Bash, which will be played as a curtain-raiser to the Big Bash League (BBL) final on Feb. 8. It will be a part of the planned triple-header of cricket on the same day, with Australia to host the Indian women in a women's Twenty20 International (T20I) in Melbourne.

During a recent interview, Ponting teased Warne saying that he is hoping his former teammate's wide contact list of big-names will come in handy as Warne has "most of them on speed-dial." The list includes the likes of West Indian great Brian Lara and Indian superstars Tendulkar and Dhoni.

"We can only try. We can only reach out to them and see if they want to help out. It's been a pretty tragic time in Australia. All those guys who have been out here and travelled with different countries have had great times in Australia, whether it's playing here or getting out and about. It sometimes can be amazing what people will do to try and help others out in difficult times," Ponting added.

"Hopefully a few (more) big names will get involved as well. From all sorts, whether it be music, film, TV or sports from different codes. We're trying to put together an eclectic group, a diverse group that people will identify with," Warne said in an interview on Sunday.

As of now, Australian retired stars such as Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Shane Watson, current coach Justin Langer, Alex Blackwell and Michael Clarke have already confirmed that participation in the Bushfire Cricket Bash. Meanwhile, Steve Waugh and former Australian women's ace Mel Jones will have non-playing roles in the game.