By Asif Naveed
DUBAI/ISLAMABAD; Pakistan on Saturday cancelled its scheduled pre-match press conference before their high-voltage encounter against arch-rivals India in the Super Four stage of the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) confirmed the development in a brief statement, saying: “Pakistan will not be holding their pre-match press conference today.”
The much-anticipated contest will take place on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with veteran referee Andy Pycroft appointed to officiate the game despite being at the centre of controversy during the group-stage clash on September 14.
During that earlier match, Pycroft had reportedly instructed both captains, Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha and India’s Suryakumar Yadav, to skip the traditional handshake at the toss.
The incident triggered strong objections from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which filed a complaint to the International Cricket Council (ICC) demanding Pycroft’s removal. While the ICC rejected the request, Pycroft later issued an apology to Pakistan’s management ahead of their subsequent fixture against the UAE.
The apology eased tensions, with a senior PCB official confirming to Dawn.com that the board had “moved on” from the matter and did not object to Pycroft’s appointment for Sunday’s encounter.
The first Pakistan-India meeting in the tournament had already been politically charged, taking place just months after a deadly four-day conflict between the two neighbours in May that claimed over 70 lives.
Although the match itself was incident-free, Indian players refused to shake hands at both the toss and conclusion of the game. Matters escalated further when Indian captain Yadav dedicated the victory to victims of a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, drawing accusations of politicising the contest.
Pakistan’s team manager, Naveed Akram Cheema, lodged an official protest against Pycroft’s handling of the incident, while PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi sought ICC intervention. For a time, Pakistan even considered withdrawing from the tournament, though the team eventually continued and advanced to the Super Four stage after defeating the UAE.
Meanwhile, the cricketing rivalry remains intense. India topped Group A, winning all three matches, including a close victory against Oman, while Pakistan finished second with two wins. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh advanced from Group B, setting up a competitive Super Four phase.
Sri Lanka opened the round with a clash against Bangladesh on Saturday, while Pakistan will face India on Sunday before taking on Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on September 23.
Indian media have suggested that their team will maintain its “no-handshake” stance for the upcoming clash, adding to the charged atmosphere.
Off the field, voices of concern continue. Former PCB chairperson Ramiz Raja criticised Pakistan’s strategy, describing it as inconsistent and urging the team to build larger totals instead of relying heavily on all-rounders. He emphasised that players like Saim Ayub and Hassan Nawaz must perform if Pakistan is to seriously challenge India.
Despite the controversies, the Asia Cup serves as more than a regional bragging-rights contest. It is also viewed as vital preparation for the T20 World Cup scheduled next year in India and Sri Lanka. With a potential third meeting in the final on September 28, the stakes for Sunday’s clash are higher than ever.
