Subhayan Chakraborty in Dubai
India are set to stick to their no-handshake policy with the Pakistan team as they gear up for a critical Super Four Asia Cup encounter. A week ago, at the same venue, India enjoyed a thumping win against their arch-rivals. As part of their preparation, Salman Ali Agha’s team received a surprise visit from PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who was at their training session on Saturday. Naqvi, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman as well, walked straight to the Pakistan nets to meet the players and support staff at the ICC Academy in Dubai. That led to the abrupt end of Pakistan’s net sessions as players wrapped up their drills to meet the PCB boss.
Naqvi later had an in-depth discussion with coach Mike Hesson, and was visibly animated, emphasising key points with expressive gestures before summoning Agha, the captain, to explain a few points. Speculation is rife that Pakistan are planning a political message in case they win their match against India on Sunday. While playing foot-volley during the warmups, Pakistan players seemed a little more excited when repeatedly shouting ‘6-0’, which appears to be a propaganda gesture linked to the false claim that six Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft were shot down during Operation Sindoor.
Naqvi is also set to meet a few ICC officials with regard to the global body’s stern email, citing PMOA (Players and Match Officials Area) breaches and misconduct before Pakistan’s match against the UAE.
Pakistan also stirred speculation by cancelling their pre-match press conference for the second straight time during the Asia Cup, hinting at underlying tensions within the camp.
In their previous meeting last Sunday, India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets, chasing 128 runs in 15.5 overs. The match sparked controversy when India’s players, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, declined to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts, citing solidarity with the families of the 26 victims of the Pahalgam terror attack in April.
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The incident infuriated the PCB, which blamed match referee Andy Pycroft for suggesting the captains skip handshake at the toss. The PCB demanded Pycroft’s removal and threatened to withdraw from the tournament, only for the ICC to reject their requests multiple times.
Earlier this week, Pakistan did nearly withdraw from the tournament, when players were initially instructed to remain in their hotel instead of traveling for their match against the UAE. Following a prolonged meeting and an hour-long delay, the team was cleared to play and secured a convincing victory to advance to the Super Four. However, the PCB faced a backlash after a leaked video of Pycroft’s pre-match discussion with the Pakistan team surfaced online. The ICC responded with a stern email, accusing the PCB of “multiple breaches” of the PMOA protocol.
To address the team’s state of mind, the PCB have brought in psychiatrist Dr Raheel Ahmed, who is also a motivational speaker according to his resume. Joining after Pakistan’s Group A matches, Ahmed has been collaborating with the support staff, and conducting one-on-one sessions with younger players struggling with the mental strain of competing against India. His focus has been on pinpointing the causes of psychological challenges in high-pressure moments.
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