Sydney, Oct.24 : In his new book, Captain's Diary 2007, which hits bookshelves across Australia today, Ponting reveals how his team's World Cup-winning celebrations almost ended in disaster — with the possibility of even a night in jail — in the West Indies earlier this year after the team ventured back onto the Bridgetown pitch to sing its celebratory song Under the Southern Cross following its win over Sri Lanka in the final.

According to stuff.nz.com, Ponting noticed a group of policemen coming up behind them, with one of them saying: "Righto boys, time to go, you've got to get off the ground."

"Hang on," said Ponting. "We've just won the World Cup. Can't you give us one minute? Unfortunately, I added a swear word into that request, which the police officer did not appreciate at all. 'You cannot cuss like that in Barbados,' he said firmly, as his mood blackened.

"He stepped towards me, and my team mates moved in behind me, as if a real stink was about to take place. I think they threatened to lock us up for the night, and we soon realised that we weren't going to be permitted to finish our ceremony.

"As a diplomat, I'd failed miserably, and I'm fully aware I shouldn't have sworn like I did, though I do wonder why they couldn't have given us a little more time. We went back to the dressing room, packed up our things, and returned back to the hotel, where we sang the anthem long and loudly by the pool …" (ANI)