'Not surprising' - Sunil Gavaskar slams Pakistan for skipping IND vs PAK Asia Cup press conference and claims it hurts cricket

Saurav Goyal

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'Not surprising' - Sunil Gavaskar slams Pakistan for skipping IND vs PAK Asia Cup press conference and claims it hurts cricket image

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The build-up to the India vs Pakistan Super 4 clash in the Asia Cup 2025 has already been heated but Pakistan added more drama as they refused to attend the pre-match press conference.

This decision did not sit well with legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, who called out Pakistan’s move and said they should be penalized.

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Let's take a look at what he had to say.

What did Sunil Gavaskar say about Pakistan’s stance?

Sunil Gavaskar did not hold back his views on Pakistan’s absence from the media room. He said press conferences are a part of modern cricket and teams must keep communication open with journalists.

According to him, when teams avoid this responsibility, it leads to speculation and damages the credibility of the sport.

“I don’t know what the thinking behind that is, but as far as I know, press conferences are mandatory. If teams don’t hold them, I’m not sure what the penalties are—if any—but in today’s world, it’s important for the media to be involved and kept informed," Gavaskar told India Today.

"Instead of relying on sources or gossip, it’s better for teams to directly share their point of view. Perhaps Pakistan feel they have nothing to say, which, frankly, isn’t surprising,” he added.

MORE: Asia Cup 2025 format: Explaining group stage and Super Four format for Asia Cup T20 tournament

Why did Pakistan cancel the press conference before facing India?

On the eve of the high-voltage clash in Dubai, Pakistan was expected to put forward a player or team representative for the scheduled media session.

Instead, the slot remained empty, just like it did a few days ago when they skipped their briefing before playing the UAE.

Reports suggest the decision may have been connected to the ongoing tension from the handshake controversy and Pakistan’s dispute with match referee Andy Pycroft.

Earlier, the PCB had demanded Pycroft’s removal after he reportedly told captain Salman Ali Agha that there would be no handshake with India’s Suryakumar Yadav at the toss.

Things escalated further when PCB released a short video of their meeting with Pycroft, which the ICC later said was against rules.

For many, Pakistan’s decision to repeatedly avoid the press conference shows their discomfort in facing direct questions from the media at such a tense moment.

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Saurav Goyal

Saurav Goyal is a Content Producer at the Sporting News with over two years of experience in covering cricket. An avid cricket fan for more than two decades, his passion for the game led him to writing. Since then, he’s been delivering the latest news and engaging content to keep cricket fans informed and entertained.