Tensions are soaring in the cricket world as India and Pakistan gear up for another electrifying Super Four clash in the Asia Cup at the Dubai International Stadium. Just a week after their last controversy-ridden encounter, the rivalry is reaching new heights.
In a bid to boost team morale and alleviate pressure, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and Asian Cricket Council president, Mohsin Naqvi, made a surprise visit to the team’s nets session at the ICC Academy on Saturday. This high-profile visit underscores the importance Pakistan is placing on their upcoming match.
Beyond the chairman’s presence, the PCB has rolled out a comprehensive stress-management program. They’ve brought in renowned motivational speaker Dr. Raheel Ahmed, who joined the squad post-group stage. Dr. Ahmed is working closely with players, offering individual sessions to help them navigate the immense psychological demands of facing their arch-rivals. His primary focus is to identify and address the root causes of mental lapses during critical match moments.
Adding to the drama, Pakistan has once again cancelled its pre-match press conference – for the second consecutive game. This unusual move has sparked widespread speculation about underlying unease and heightened tensions within the team camp.
The current heated atmosphere stems directly from last Sunday’s dramatic match. India emerged victorious, beating Pakistan by seven wickets while chasing 128 runs in just 15.5 overs. However, the game concluded amidst a significant controversy: Indian players notably declined to shake hands with their opponents. Captain Suryakumar Yadav later clarified this decision, stating it was a gesture of solidarity for the families of the 26 victims of the Pakistan-backed Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year.
This gesture deeply angered the PCB, who vehemently blamed match referee Andy Pycroft, accusing him of advising captains to forgo the traditional post-match handshakes. Pakistan went as far as demanding Pycroft’s immediate removal and even threatened to withdraw from the tournament entirely. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) firmly dismissed their appeals on two separate occasions.
The situation escalated further before Pakistan’s subsequent fixture against the UAE. Reports indicated that players were initially prevented from leaving their hotel as PCB officials engaged in intense debates about the team’s continued participation. After an hour-long standoff, clearance was finally granted, and Pakistan proceeded to secure a comfortable victory, earning their spot in the Super Four.
Further controversy erupted when a video surfaced, showing Pycroft meeting with the Pakistan camp before the UAE match. The PCB controversially claimed that Pycroft offered an an apology during this meeting, though the audio in the clip was muted. The ICC swiftly responded with a stern email, accusing the PCB of multiple breaches of the Player and Match Officials Area (PMOA) protocol. The ICC clarified that Pycroft had only suggested the gathering as an attempt to de-escalate the tensions that arose from the contentious India game.