/sportsinfo/media/member_avatars/image 59.png)
/sportsinfo/media/member_avatars/2024/12/10/2024-12-10t072017470z-umesh-photo.jpg )
Follow Us/sportsinfo/media/media_files/2025/05/11/rNRMcacJEWBdtZ8stHuf.png)
Ricky Ponting stays in India to rescue PBKS Photograph: (X/Internet )
In what looks to be a positive development for the in-form Punjab Kings, the team’s head coach, Ricky Ponting, took a big and bold decision to rescue the team in the chaos amidst the IPL 2025 suspension. Notably, the tournament was declared ‘suspended’ by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday, May 9, due to the escalating cross-border conflict between India and Pakistan.
Subsequently, the Board also came up with an advisory to the teams to travel back to their homes amidst the ongoing cross-border tensions. PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting was one of those foreign members in the camp who were supposed to go back to their respective countries. He had also boarded the flight to his return journey from Delhi to Australia.
But as soon as the ceasefire was announced at the Indo-Pak border, a message to Ponting was conveyed from the PBKS management, which made him deboard the flight and agree to return. This development was confirmed by the franchise’s CEO, Satish Menon.
Ricky Ponting and Brad Haddin have set an example - PBKS CEO
Furthermore, Menon also extended his gratitude to head coach Ricky Ponting and assistant coach Brad Haddin for considering PBKS’ message to return. The PBKS boss also looked optimistic that the Ponting-Haddin example would make it easy to convince the foreign players, including Marcus Stoinis and Xavier Bartlett, and Josh Inglis from Australia, in PBKS to return to India.
“Kudos to Ricky. He was going home. He even boarded the flight, but the moment we sent him the message that a ceasefire has been announced, he returned. Brad Haddin (assistant coach) is also in,” Satish Menon was quoted as saying by the Times of India.
“Our boys will return. Ricky and Brad have set an example. We are waiting for official instructions from the BCCI, and then only will we reach out to our players,” he added later.
Speaking of Punjab Kings’ performances, under the Ponting-Shreyas duo’s leadership in the IPL 2025 before suspension, the team was placed comfortably in the third spot on the tournament standings. They won seven games while losing only three, alongside a no-result game in their 11 games before their home game against DC in Dharamsala was called off. PBKS are in contention for the playoff qualifications after a long time of 11 years since 2014.