Ian Pont—former Essex cricketer, global pace bowling coach, and founder of a renowned UK academy, joined Saj for an exclusive interview with PakPassion and delivered razor-sharp analysis on Pakistan’s Champions Trophy disaster, India’s cricketing dominance, and the future of 50-over cricket.
By Saj Sadiq (March 14, 2025)
Ian Pont—former Essex cricketer, global pace bowling coach, and founder of a renowned UK academy, joined Saj for an exclusive interview with PakPassion and delivered razor-sharp analysis on Pakistan’s Champions Trophy disaster, India’s cricketing dominance, and the future of 50-over cricket.
With decades of coaching experience in the PSL, BPL, and beyond, Pont dissected the systemic flaws holding Pakistan back and the ICC’s controversial decisions.
Main topics covered in this interview:
Pakistan’s shocking collapse in ICC Champions Trophy 2025: He reflected on Pakistan’s underwhelming performance and expressed disappointment over their inability to perform at home.
ICC’s unfair Tournament setup: He criticized the ICC for holding tournaments in locations where not all major teams can participate, particularly highlighting the advantage given to India thereby creating an uneven playing field.
IPL: The Financial Powerhouse: He attributed India’s cricket dominance to the financial strength of the IPL while pointing out that Pakistan struggles to match this financial prowess despite having its own emerging league, the PSL.
Unrealized potential in Pakistan Cricket: He criticized the focus on "talent," urging players and management to adopt cohesive strategies for consistent success
Enhancing PCB’s coaching initiatives: He proposed that the PCB should enhance grassroots coaching to nurture talent efficiently, emphasizing that strong coaching frameworks are key to developing better players.
Defending the 50-Over format: He defended ODI cricket's relevance, highlighting its unique challenges, excitement, and ability to engage fans while allowing players to recover from mistakes during matches.
Watch the full interview here:
