Following days of confusion and speculation, cricket’s most hostile rivalry is set to resume this weekend when India faces Pakistan in the Asia Cup Super Four.
The fierce south Asian rivals have booked their spot in the next stage of the T20 tournament, scheduled to clash at Dubai International Stadium on Monday morning at 12.30am AEST. India and Pakistan, who do not play each other outside of global events, could face off a third time if they both qualify for the final.
The Asia Cup marks the first time India and Pakistan have faced off since the cross-border hostilities that erupted following April’s Pahalgam terror attack. More than 70 people were killed by missile, drone and artillery during the four-day conflict that broke out in the disputed Kashmir region, the worst escalation of tensions between the two nations this century.
The conflict also interrupted the Indian Premier League and Pakistan Super League, with multiple international players forced to flee the subcontinent, fearing for their own safety.
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Tensions between the two countries spilled out onto the field when India’s players skipped the customary post-game handshake following last week’s group-stage match in Dubai, a decision that left Pakistan visibly disappointed. In protest, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha boycotted the post-match presentation.
“We went over there to shake hands and they’d already gone into the changing room,” Pakistan coach Mike Hesson explained.
“That was a disappointing way for the match to finish.”
Asked about the handshake snub during the post-match press conference, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav declared: “I feel a few things in life are ahead of sportsman spirit.”
SKY endorses Pakistan handshake snub | 00:31
He also dedicated the team’s victory to the Indian Armed Forces.
“We stand with all the victims of Pahalgam terror attacks, stand with their families, and express our solidarity,” Yadav continued.
“We dedicate this win to our brave armed forces who took part in Operation Sindoor.”
Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Yousuf later referred to Yadav as a “pig” on national television, offering a bizarre apology on social media.
After the match, the Pakistan Cricket Board claimed that match referee Andy Pycroft had breached the ICC’s code of conduct regulations by telling skipper Agha there would be no handshakes at the toss.
The PCB demanded that Pycroft be removed from the Asia Cup’s panel of referees, with the ICC immediately agreeing to look into the matter. However, Pycroft was later cleared, with the ICC stating there was no valid reason to replace him.
Reports suggest that Pycroft was simply conveying the BCCI’s stance on the matter rather than instructing the two captains not to shake hands.
“(Pycroft) did not breach any match protocols,” the ICC stated.
“In fact, he helped prevent potential embarrassment for both captains by informing them that the organisers had decided to skip the handshake at the toss.”
Elsewhere, Pakistan cricket fans penned and circulated fake quotes from former Australian captain Ricky Ponting on social media, causing further outrage.
A standoff between the PCB and the ICC erupted, prompting a flurry of emails, phone calls and allegations. The PCB threatened to withdraw from the tournament altogether, declaring they would review Pakistan’s participation in the Asia Cup if their demands weren’t met.
Pakistan’s withdrawal would have come as a significant blow to stakeholders and broadcasters, with the PCB reportedly set to lose AU$24 million in revenue if they pulled out of the tournament.
Speaking to ANI, former Indian cricket Atul Wassan called the PCB’s actions “immature and juvenile”.
“They have become so shameless that they want to force us into shaking hands,” Wassan said.
“They insulted themselves more after filing the complaint. The complaint shows how immature and juvenile they are. Our message was clear that we played for the ecosystem, but not to expect anything more from us because we don’t like you at all.”
Wednesday’s Asia Cup match between Pakistan and hosts the United Arab Emirates was delayed an hour as the PCB deliberated on its next move, with the organisation sharing footage of chairman Mohsin Naqvi discussing his options with predecessors Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi.
The Pakistan players were told to stay at their hotel beyond their scheduled departure, prompting speculation of a possible forfeit, but the match eventually went ahead, with Pycroft officiating the contest.
Later on Wednesday, the PCB uploaded muted footage of Pycroft talking with Agha, Hesson and Pakistan team manager Naved Akram Cheema, with the organisation claiming the Zimbabwean official had apologised for the handshake debacle. However, multiple sources suggested Pycroft had offered a clarification rather than an apology.
The PCB also claimed the ICC had agreed to conduct an inquiry into Pycroft’s alleged code of conduct violation, but the ICC has never budged from its stance that he was innocent of any wrongdoing.
Across in Lahore, Naqvi declared in a press conference that “politics and sports can’t go together”.
“This is sports, and let it remain a sport,” he said.
“Cricket should be separate from all this.”
During the same presser, Raja questioned Pycroft’s neutrality and claimed the 69-year-old was “the favourite for Team India”.
“He is a permanent fixer over there when it comes to the Indian team,” Raja said.
“He has officiated in 90 Indian games. This is blatant, this is one-sided and it shouldn’t happen like that. This is a neutral platform.
“I just hope better sense prevails.”
Pycroft has officiated 124 matches for India compared to 102 for Pakistan.
India’s no-handshake policy looks set to continue on Sunday, which looms as another politically-charged showdown between the cross-border rivals. Meanwhile, the ICC is reportedly mulling disciplinary action against Pakistan for “misconduct” and the “violation of multiple tournament rules”, including the filming of Wednesday’s meeting with Pycroft in a restricted area.
No doubt the Asia Cup is set for plenty more drama, on and off the field.
“We’re ready for any challenge,” Agha said on Wednesday.
“If we keep playing the way we have over the last four months, we’ll be good against any side.”
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