The stage is set for an electrifying Super Four clash in the Asia Cup 2025 as arch-rivals India and Pakistan prepare for their showdown. The previous encounter between these two cricketing giants was marred by controversy, including a notable ‘no handshake’ incident and official complaints from the Pakistan Cricket Board against an ICC official. These intense off-field tensions, combined with recent geopolitical events, are expected to significantly heighten the stakes and influence both teams’ strategies and performance in this high-pressure match.
India and Pakistan are scheduled to face each other in their first Super Four stage match of the Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai this Sunday. Adding to the pre-match buzz, BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla has openly declared his confidence in Suryakumar Yadav’s team.
“India will win the match,” Shukla stated unequivocally to ANI.
The teams previously met in the group stage, where India secured a convincing seven-wicket victory.
This upcoming fixture marks their second encounter following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack in April and the Indian Armed Forces’ ‘Operation Sindoor’ in May. In their initial group stage face-off, India successfully chased down a target of 128 runs, losing only three wickets. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav was a standout performer, earning Player of the Match honors with impressive figures of 3/18, which helped restrict Pakistan to a total of 127/9.
However, events following that match overshadowed the on-field action. Post-match, Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube conspicuously left the field without shaking hands with the Pakistani team. Television footage reportedly showed the Indian team closing their dressing room door on their opponents. The Indian captain later dedicated the victory to the armed forces and expressed solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam attack.
Pakistan’s response was swift. They notably bypassed the traditional post-match presentation, with coach Mike Hesson addressing the media instead of captain Salman Agha. Subsequently, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged an official complaint against match referee Pycroft, citing alleged violations of the ICC Code of Conduct and MCC cricket spirit laws.
The tensions further escalated when Pakistan cancelled their pre-match press conference before their next UAE match. The team reportedly remained confined to their hotel, with the PCB threatening to withdraw from the tournament if Pycroft was not removed from his duties. After an hour’s delay and a meeting between Pycroft and Pakistan’s leadership, the match eventually proceeded. This saw Pakistan secure a victory and qualify for the Super Four stage.
It was widely reported that Pycroft had only been informed about the ‘no handshake’ protocol just minutes before the toss by the ACC venue manager. He merely relayed the message rather than originating the instruction. Nevertheless, the PCB later issued a statement asserting that Pycroft had apologized during their meeting. The ICC considered issuing its own response to clarify the situation, especially after the PCB released a video of the interaction without audio, despite concerns raised during the meeting.
These significant off-field developments are poised to heavily influence both teams’ approach to the highly anticipated upcoming match. While India is expected to maintain its aggressive cricket style, Pakistan, known for its unpredictable nature in T20Is, may harness these recent events as potent motivation for an enhanced performance.