Ricky Ponting persuades Punjab Kings players to stay in India after ceasefire with Pakistan

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 matches got impacted amid the tensions between India and Pakistan. On May 8, a game between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala was stopped because of security concerns. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) paused the league for a week raising fear among the foreign players.

Ricky Ponting, the head coach of Punjab Kings (PBKS), convinced the overseas players of the team to stay back in India after a ceasefire with Pakistan.

Ponting’s big decision

Many foreign players got scared when the situation between India and Pakistan worsened, and they began going back to their countries. However, when the news came that India and Pakistan had agreed to a ceasefire, Ponting who had already boarded the flight, made a bold choice.

He got off his flight in Delhi and decided to stay in India. But he didn’t stop there. He knew PBKS overseas players were worried, so the head coach convinced them to stay back. “It shows Ricky Ponting’s character. Only he could have pulled that off,” said Punjab Kings CEO Satish Menon, as quoted by PTI.

Calming Punjab Kings players

After a tough trip from Dharamsala to Jalandhar and then Delhi, many players including Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, and Xavier Bartlett wanted to leave right away. Ponting tried his best to hold them back in India. However, baring Ponting and the support staff, all the foreign players have left India. 

South African Marco Jansen and Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai have camped themselves in Dubai, which is a few hours journey from India.  

IPL new schedule update

On Sunday, the BCCI worked out a new schedule and places for the games, which they will share with teams soon. With most of their Indian and foreign players still in India, Punjab Kings is set to get back on the field.

Punjab Kings current position on IPL Points Table 2025

Punjab Kings are currently in the third position on the points table. They have won seven matches, and two got abandoned out of eleven games played. They are just one win away from making it to the Playoffs. Interestingly, it will be the first time after 2014 that PBKS will make it to the top four.