https://arab.news/6dthq
- India triggered controversy after their players refused to shake hands with Pakistani counterparts on Sept. 14 clash
- Controversy angered Pakistan, who complained against match referee, boycotted Saturday’s pre-match conference
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will eye revenge against a formidable and undefeated Indian cricket team today, Sunday, as the two sides once again clash in Dubai for their Asia Cup Super Four stage fixture.
India won the Sept. 14 clash against Pakistan in Dubai convincingly, inviting controversy when they refused to shake hands with their opponents. The move angered Pakistan, who were facing India for the first time since a four-day cross-border conflict between the two nations in May left more than 70 dead.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged a protest with the International Cricket Council, alleging match referee Andrew Pycroft had told skipper Salman Agha not to approach Indian counterpart Suryakumar Yadav for a handshake at the toss.
During a pre-match conference ahead of the Pakistan clash on Saturday, Yadav was asked how his team would shut out the noise ahead of the Sunday clash.
“Close your room, switch off your phone and sleep,” Kumar responded, laughing.
“Of course, it’s not always possible. You meet a lot of friends, you go out to dinner. You have other players also around who like to see all these things. So it’s very difficult, but then it’s on you. What you want to listen to, what you want to have in your mind.”
The Indian captain said it was very important for his team that if they want to do well in the tournament, they “will have to shut out a lot of noise from outside.”
A reporter hinted at the handshake saga during the press conference, commending India for doing well with the bat, ball and “everything else.”
Yadav responded: “Other things? What is that?”
Pakistan, meanwhile, did not hold a pre-match conference. The Green Shirts did not specify a reason.
However, at the post-match press conference on Sept. 14, Pakistan coach Mike Hesson said the Indian team’s refusal to shake hands was disappointing.
“Obviously, we were ready to shake hands at the end of the game,” New Zealander Hesson said. “We were disappointed that our opposition didn’t do that.”
The match is scheduled to take place at 7:30 pm. The Super Four stage will see the four teams of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh compete for a spot in the final of the tournament.
The top two teams will advance into the semifinal.