DUBAI:
The destiny of Pakistan’s marketing campaign on the Asia Cup can be determined after a high-profile Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) assembly going down in Islamabad on Tuesday night time.
The handshake controversy began on Sunday because the neighbours met for the primary time since a navy battle between them in Might, however tensions simmered after the match as India’s gamers left the sphere with out shaking arms.
The choice has not been taken as but whether or not Pakistan will boycott the Asia Cup or proceed to take part.
The PCB assembly is being presided over by PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi.
The incident has sparked outrage in Pakistan, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodging a proper protest and captain Salman Ali Agha boycotting his post-match media duties.
Within the meantime, the PCB demanded an motion in opposition to match referee Andy Pycroft, however the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly turned down the PCB’s request to take away the official from the continuing Asia Cup, following controversy the place India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets.
The PCB additionally took motion in opposition to Director Worldwide Usman Wahla over the latest handshake controversy, citing his failure to handle the scenario through the match.
On Tuesday, Pakistan cancelled the pre-match press convention forward of their fixture with the United Arab Emirates that’s scheduled for Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
The Pakistan staff administration selected to skip the press convention as a result of heavy presence of the Indian media. The administration anticipated questions concerning the boycott and, due to this fact, selected to forego the session with the journalists to keep away from any additional controversy.
Pakistan is coaching on the identical venue as India
Pakistan is working towards for his or her matches on the identical venue because the India staff on the ICC Academy in Dubai.
The Indian staff was working towards on the academy, after which Pakistan joined it later, however at a special floor to keep away from a repeat of incidents just like the one on Sunday.
The Asia Cup matches are going down on the Dubai Worldwide Stadium and Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.
If PCB selected to not boycott, Pakistan can be enjoying their subsequent match in opposition to UAE on the Dubai Worldwide Stadium on Wednesday, September 17.
Disciplinary motion
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is contemplating disciplinary motion in opposition to the Indian staff after their gamers prevented shaking arms with their Pakistani counterparts after the Asia Cup conflict in Dubai.
A ultimate determination can be taken after reviewing all associated incidents, with fines on Indian gamers being a possible end result.
After the match, Indian gamers refused to alternate handshakes with Pakistanis, whereas on the toss, the captains additionally shunned the customary gesture. Pakistan’s head coach Mike Hesson strongly criticized the conduct, terming it in opposition to the spirit of the sport.
Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav additional stirred controversy by linking the staff’s victory to political statements.
“We stand with the victims of the Pahalgam assault and their households. We dedicate at the moment’s win to our armed forces,” he mentioned.
In response, Pakistan staff supervisor Naveed Akram Cheema lodged a proper protest with the match referee, calling the incident “a violation of sportsmanship.” He additionally revealed that it was the referee who had requested the captains to not shake arms on the toss.
In protest, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha didn’t attend the post-match presentation ceremony.
Coach Hesson defended the response of the Pakistan camp, stating, “What the Indian staff did was inappropriate. Pakistan’s response was pure.”
The controversy has now drawn the eye of the ACC, which is weighing potential disciplinary motion in opposition to the Indian staff.
