Pakistan will once again face arch-rivals India in the Asia Cup on Sunday, September 21, following a controversy-laden Group A game on the previous Sunday.
During their first clash of the competition, captain Suryakumar Yadav and the team refrained from shaking hands with Pakistan players, sparking unrest between PCB and the organisers, with the former threatening to withdraw from the tournament.
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Pakistan notably called for the replacement of match referee Andy Pycroft from the tournament for suggesting that captains avoid the handshake at the toss, citing the deteriorating relations between the countries since the Pahalgam terror attack.
As the two sides meet again, more drama is on the cards, and PCB has risked sanctions just a day before the game.
READ: Who will be the match referee for IND vs PAK Super 4 match in Asia Cup 2025?
IND vs PAK: Pakistan cancels pre-match press conference
Having skipped the mandatory pre-match press conference and post-match presentations earlier in the tournament and arriving late for the UAE match, the PCB was under scrutiny for breaking the rules.
Adding to the trouble, they have once again decided to disregard the rules before the crucial Super Four match against India by cancelling another presser just over 24 hours before the match.
Additionally, after Pakistan released a video footage of a meeting with Andy Pycroft from the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) — a restricted zone for phones and cameras, they could face an economic sanction from the ICC.
As of now, no official statement has been issued by either ACC or ICC regarding the issue.
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