The cross-border tensions between Pakistan and India are not something anyone, especially the foreign players, expected. That started as an anti-terror mission, turned into a war-like situation after Pakistan "answered" by targeting innocent civilians in several parts of western and northern India, including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat. The bunch of players who walked onto the field to have a match against each other at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala, witnessed the tension, the hurry, and the instructions for immediate evacuations. The 10-minute GRWM-like situation for every player was a call to get escorted safely. Players who were used to boarding flights rushed into 50 buses and then tothe Bande Bharat Express for safety! Unprecedented, fearing and overwhelming! In such a situation, when Punjab itself got covered with sounds of sirens and relentless hurling of shells from Pakistan, it is not unusual that the overseas players would pack their bags for their own homeland. Notably, Punjab Kings, being led by the former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, has bagged a lot of Aussie names, including Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglish and others. The South African Marco Yansen has already flown to Dubai, though it is a short flight away from India. Read also: Overseas Players To Be Recalled By Tuesday as BCCI Targets IPL 2025 Resumption However, the Aussie troop was getting ready to leave India as well. Stoinis was the first one to zip his luggage. Meanwhile, Ponting, who had already booked the flight, stayed back the moment a ceasefire was announced between the two countries. Not only that, he literally convinced his fellow countrymen to stay back in India. Punjab Kings CEO Satish Menon informed PTI, praising the character of Ricky Ponting. In the interaction, Menon said, "It shows Ponting's character. Only he could have pulled that off. 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." Dharamshala, on May 8, witnessed the most unwanted scene when spectators, players and media teams were rushed out after shelling started in Pathankot, just 85 kilometers away from the stadium. Initially, a floodlight went off, and then the entire stadium went under blackout. Since then, several players have been moving out from India, even though they know that the tournament might start within a week's break. Notably, as announced, the abandoned match at Dharamshala between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals will be played from ball 1, on the day the league resumes.