8 months ago
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For the second Asia Cup game in succession, Pakistan called off its pre-match media interaction to add to the drama surrounding Sunday’s contest against India in the Super Four stage. Despite its demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from the tournament for his role in the handshake row that erupted during the India-Pakistan group clash last weekend, the Zimbabwean will officiate in the high-profile affair on Sunday (September 21, 2025).
Pakistan’s players, however, turned up for a training stint at the ICC Academy nets after 6 p.m. on Saturday. Concurrently, India went through an optional session at an adjacent ground.
Ever since India’s refusal to exchange customary handshakes with Pakistan’s players, the continental event has been subjected to a series of controversies.
In the aftermath, the Pakistan Cricket Board complained to the ICC demanding Pycroft’s ouster from the tournament for asking both captains to not shake hands at the time of the toss. The ICC cleared the 69-year-old of any wrongdoing.
Refusing to take the decision lying down, Pakistan cancelled a press conference on the eve of its match against the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, and threatened a pullout by delaying its arrival to the venue for the game. The match was eventually deferred by an hour. Pycroft was the referee in that game too.
