A week after a controversy-filled clash at the Dubai International Stadium, India and Pakistan are preparing for another high-stakes Super Four meeting in the Asia Cup at the same venue. On Saturday, Pakistan received a morale boost when PCB chairman and Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi visited the team during nets at the ICC Academy.
In addition to Naqvi’s presence, the PCB has introduced a stress-management plan to ease pressure on players ahead of the contest. The board engaged motivational speaker Dr Raheel Ahmed, who joined the squad following the group stage. Ahmed has been working closely with the support staff, holding individual sessions with players struggling to handle the psychological demands of facing India. His focus has been to identify the causes of mental lapses in key moments.
Pakistani players celebrate (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Pakistan have also raised eyebrows by cancelling their pre-match press conference for a second successive game, sparking speculation about unease within the camp.
The tension stems from last Sunday’s match, where India beat Pakistan by seven wickets while chasing 128 in 15.5 overs. The encounter ended in controversy when Indian players declined to shake hands with their opponents. Captain Suryakumar Yadav explained it was a gesture of solidarity with the families of 26 victims of the Pakistan-backed Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year.
The move angered the PCB, who blamed match referee Andy Pycroft for advising the captains to skip handshakes. Pakistan demanded his removal and even threatened to withdraw from the tournament, though the ICC twice dismissed their appeal.
Frustration reached another level before Pakistan’s fixture against the UAE. The players were initially prevented from leaving the hotel as PCB officials debated the team’s participation. After an hour-long delay, clearance was granted and Pakistan went on to record a comfortable win to secure a Super Four spot.
However, fresh trouble arose when a video surfaced showing Pycroft meeting the Pakistan camp before that match. The PCB claimed he apologised during the meeting, though the clip was muted. ICC later issued a stern email, accusing the board of multiple breaches of the PMOA protocol and clarified that Pycroft had only suggested the gathering to resolve tensions from the India game.