Ricky Ponting convinced scared foreign players in Punjab Kings dugout to stay in India amid ongoing border tension

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Punjab Kings (PBKS) head coach Ricky Ponting was all set to leave India and take off for home when the ceasefire between India and Pakistan was implied.

Apart from that, the Australian legend had the chance to fly back to his home, but he made the decision to stay. Ponting made a last-minute return from the flight as the plane was filled with anxious passengers.

Ricky Ponting stayed in Delhi, but has also made sure that the foreign players in PBKS, who were speculating a full-scale war between two highly-armed countries, did not board the flight on Saturday night.

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“It shows Ponting’s character. Only he could have pulled that off,” Punjab Kings CEO Satish Menon told PTI referring to the pep talk given by the World Cup winning captain to the entire bunch of foreign players.

The players had made a dangerous road and then train journey from Dharamshala to Delhi after the PBKS vs DC clash was abandoned. The foreign cricketers included Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis and Xavier Bartlett (all from Australia).

“The foreign players are not used to something like this (war like situation). So, it was natural for them to feel anxious. Led by Stoinis, they all wanted to leave at the earliest and understandably so. But Ponting has convinced them to stay back post ceasefire which I think is remarkable,” said a source in the team.

Marco Jansen is the only player from the regular playing XI of the PBKS who has left India. The South African player is transiting in Dubai, which is a short flight away.

As the announcement of the IPL resuming is soon to come, Punjab Kings find themselves at a good place as they have most of their star Indian and foreign players already in the country while being on stand by as well.

With Ponting energising the team from a nervous situation, it could push the squad to make some wonder and do something special in the IPL once the season resumes.

The other stranded team in Dharamsala was Delhi Capitals after the game was abandoned after Punjab Kings raced to 122 for 1 in 10.1 overs. The match will resume from that position at a yet to be decided venue and date.