PCB Likely to Skip Pre-Match Press Talk, UAE Clash in Doubt; Unlikely to Pull Out of Asia Cup Fearing ICC Sanctions

No final decision has been taken yet on whether Pakistan’s pre-match press conference will be cancelled ahead of their ACC Men’s Asia T20 Cup 2025 match against the UAE at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday sources said. A Pakistani player was supposed to speak to the media on Tuesday at 7:30 PM, but with the latest developments, there are chances that the press conference may not happen.

The team’s training is still planned for 9:00 PM, but sources say it might get cancelled if things change. At the same time, it’s unclear whether the team will play, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is looking at taking action after Sunday’s tense India-Pakistan match. Sources say the PCB will share its official decision in the next few hours. The board is also pushing to replace match referee Andy Pycroft, blaming him for mishandling the pre-match handshake issue.

The team management in Dubai hasn’t received any official update from the ICC about the situation. Insiders say that if Pakistan’s demand isn’t met, the national team could pull out of the tournament completely. For those who don’t know, the group-stage match between the two rivals was played in a tense atmosphere, with no handshakes happening including the usual captains’ handshake at the toss.

After hitting the winning runs, India captain Suryakumar and teammate Shivam Dube shared fist bumps and congratulated each other before heading straight to the dressing room. They did shake hands with their own teammates at the dugout but stayed away from interacting with the Pakistan players, who in turn, shook hands among themselves and went to their dressing room.

The tension carried over to the post-match presentation as well. Normally, the captains of both teams take part and share their thoughts on the game, but Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha did not attend this session.

ICC Rejects PCB’s Demand Against Pycroft

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is unlikely to withdraw its team from the 2025 Asia Cup despite the ongoing handshake controversy. Earlier, the PCB had written to the International Cricket Council (ICC) demanding the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft, accusing him of siding with India. The board even warned of pulling out of the tournament if their demand wasn’t accepted.

However, the ICC turned down their request, stating that Pycroft only passed on Team India’s message and had no major role in the matter. While PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi may still want to take a strong stand, reports suggest the board will not risk it, as any withdrawal could invite heavy sanctions and further trouble.

“It is very unlikely that the PCB will pull out from the Asia Cup. If we do that, ICC, led by Jay Shah, will put heavy sanctions on the PCB, and this is something our board cannot afford. The financial situation post the Champions Trophy, where all the stadiums were renovated, is not good,” a PCB source told the Times of India.

India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Handshake Controversy Timeline

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