KEY POINTS
- India likely to repeat the ‘no-handshake’ stance with Pakistan during Sunday’s Super Four clash.
- Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav dismissed the controversy, saying the focus remains on cricket.
- Match referee Andy Pycroft, who triggered the original handshake controversy, will officiate the game again.
- Both teams skipped their pre-match press conferences, keeping preparations low-key.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India meet again in the Asia Cup Super Four on Sunday in Dubai, with off-field controversy over the handshake row and match referee Andy Pycroft’s return likely to overshadow the high-voltage match.
The controversy around the handshake saga from their group stage match has returned, and this time, the signs suggest there will be no handshakes once again.
Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav, when asked about the “no handshake” moment from their September 14 clash, remained calm and dismissive.
“We are here to play cricket, not to dwell on distractions,” he said.
But behind the diplomatic tone, it is now clear: India will again avoid handshakes with Pakistan, both at the toss and after the match on Sunday.
This silent stance has been described in Pakistan’s media circles as an “immoral act,” while in Indian circles, it’s being seen as a quiet assertion to keep cricket above political gestures.
But the issue isn’t just between the players.
Adding more heat to the build-up is the reappointment of Andy Pycroft as match referee, the very man at the centre of the original controversy. Pycroft, who instructed both teams not to shake hands before the group stage clash, had drawn sharp criticism from Pakistan.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) formally requested his removal, accusing him of mishandling the protocol and showing bias.
Instead of being removed, Pycroft stayed on and met Pakistan’s management before their match against UAE on September 17. That meeting, which the PCB recorded and later shared as proof of an apology, sparked a new storm.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) hit back at the PCB, calling the filming of the private meeting a serious breach of protocol under the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) guidelines.
So far, the PCB hasn’t publicly responded to the ICC’s email.
The tension doesn’t stop there. Pakistan cancelled their pre-match press conference on Saturday, just like they did before the UAE match. Officials say the move is meant to avoid further controversies, but many believe the team is focusing on Sunday clash.
Interestingly, India also won’t be holding a press conference on Saturday. With only a day’s gap between matches, the Indian team had already addressed the media after their win over Oman on Friday night and chose to keep preparations behind closed doors.
Despite the noise around the match, Suryakumar Yadav emphasized that India is focused strictly on cricket:
“We’ve had good games so far, and we want to continue our form. Playing Pakistan again doesn’t give us an edge. We’ll have to start from scratch and play our best.”
As Sunday’s match approaches, one thing is crystal clear: handshakes will not be part of the script. Let’s see how Andy Pycroft or Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav turn this around on the other way.
In a game already filled with high stakes, national pride, and intense rivalry, the absence of handshakes is more than just a missing gesture, it’s now a message.
With Pycroft again in charge, players on edge, and the ICC watching closely, the India-Pakistan encounter is no longer just about cricket.
