A week after a highly contentious encounter at the Dubai International Stadium, cricket rivals India and Pakistan are once again set to face off in a high-stakes Super Four clash at the same venue. As anticipation builds, Pakistan’s team received a significant morale boost with a visit from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman and Asian Cricket Council president, Mohsin Naqvi, during their net practice at the ICC Academy.
Beyond Naqvi’s supportive presence, the PCB has reportedly rolled out a comprehensive stress-management plan aimed at alleviating the intense pressure on players ahead of the upcoming match. This initiative includes enlisting motivational speaker Dr. Raheel Ahmed, who joined the squad after the group stage. Dr. Ahmed has been conducting individual sessions with players, focusing on addressing psychological challenges and helping them navigate moments of mental lapse when facing their arch-rivals, India.
Adding another layer to the pre-match drama, Pakistan has surprisingly cancelled its pre-match press conference for the second consecutive game. This unusual decision has fueled speculation that the team might be employing ‘mind games’ or that there’s underlying unease within the camp, potentially linked to the controversies from their last encounter.
The tension between the two nations stems from last Sunday’s match, where India secured a seven-wicket victory by successfully chasing 128 runs in just 15.5 overs. The game concluded amidst controversy when Indian players opted not to shake hands with their opponents. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav later clarified this decision as a gesture of solidarity with the families of 26 victims of a Pakistan-backed terror attack in Pahalgam earlier this year.
This refusal deeply angered the PCB, which initially blamed match referee Andy Pycroft for allegedly advising the captains to skip the traditional post-match handshakes. Pakistan vehemently demanded Pycroft’s removal and even threatened to withdraw from the tournament. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) dismissed their appeal on both occasions.
Frustration reached a peak once more before Pakistan’s subsequent fixture against the UAE. Reports indicated that players were initially prevented from leaving their hotel as PCB officials deliberated over the team’s participation in the match. After an hour-long delay, clearance was finally granted, and Pakistan proceeded to achieve a comfortable win, securing their spot in the Super Four.
Further complicating matters, a video later surfaced showing Pycroft meeting with the Pakistan camp before the UAE match. The PCB alleged that Pycroft apologized during this meeting, though the audio in the clip was muted. The ICC subsequently issued a stern email, accusing the PCB of multiple breaches of the Player Match Officials Agreement (PMOA) protocol. The ICC clarified that Pycroft had merely suggested a gathering to help resolve the lingering tensions from the India game, not to offer an apology for his earlier advice.