Pakistan begin training as pre-match press conference cancelled
One of Pakistan's players was supposed to address pre-match press conference on Tuesday evening
DUBAI: The Pakistan cricket team resumed training here at the ICC Academy on Tuesday ahead of their final Asia Cup group-stage clash against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), set to be played on Wednesday.
The development came after the team's scheduled pre-match press conference, which was set to get underway at 7:30 PM local time and was to feature a Pakistan player, was officially cancelled.
Meanwhile, controversy continues to brew off the field. Sources confirmed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected Pakistan’s request to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from the tournament.
Following this development, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is reportedly preparing to consult key government officials before making any decision.
Notably, uncertainty persists over the national team’s participation in the Asia Cup 2025 remainder, with the PCB reportedly pushing for disciplinary measures following Sunday’s heated India-Pakistan encounter.
According to sources, the PCB is expected to issue its official stance within the next few hours. The board remains firm on its demand for the replacement of match referee Andy Pycroft, holding him accountable for mishandling the pre-match handshake controversy.
However, team management in Dubai has not been formally updated about any decision from the ICC regarding the matter.
Insiders have further revealed that if Pakistan’s demand is not accepted, the national team may withdraw from the tournament altogether.
For the unversed, the group-stage fixture between two fierce rivals was played in a tense environment as no handshakes were seen between the participating teams, including the customary captains' handshake at the toss.
After hitting the winning runs, India captain Suryakumar and teammate Shivam Dube exchanged fist bumps and congratulated each other before heading straight to the dressing room.
They shook hands with their teammates at the dugout but notably avoided any interaction with the Pakistan players, who shook each other’s hands and proceeded to their dressing room.
The tension also influenced the post-match presentation, where participating teams’ captains reflect on the game as per the norm, but Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha did not attend it.
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