Pakistan and India are set to meet again on Sunday, September 21, in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup cricket tournament in Dubai, after Pakistan beat the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 41 runs on Wednesday night.
Despite that fans wait for the cricket match between the two arch rivals Pakistan and India but the build-up to the match is overshadowed by a heated controversy from their last encounter.
India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in their group-stage match earlier this week, but the post-match headlines were dominated less by the result and more by what followed. Indian players walked off the field without shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts, a gesture widely regarded as part of cricket’s spirit of sportsmanship.
Pakistan’s captain Salman Ali Agha was seen approaching the Indian players at the end, but by then the Indian team had already left the field. The lack of handshakes drew sharp reactions from fans and officials, with critics calling it a violation of the game’s ethos.
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav later defended the decision, linking it to the political stance of the Indian government and the BCCI. He said his team came “just to play the match” and described their performance as “a perfect reply.”
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC), demanding the immediate removal of match referee Andy Pycroft. According to the PCB, Pycroft allegedly instructed Pakistan’s captain not to shake hands with India’s skipper before the game, which they termed a breach of both the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws of Cricket.
However, the ICC rejected Pakistan’s demand, insisting that Pycroft will continue in his role. The ruling body maintained there was no misconduct on the part of the referee.
The controversy has only added to the intensity of Sunday’s upcoming clash. With both sides under pressure, Pakistan seeking redemption after their loss and India aiming to continue their winning run, the rivalry is expected to be fierce both on and off the pitch
