India and Pakistan gear up for their first Super Four showdown in the Asia Cup 2025 this Sunday in Dubai, and the cricket world is buzzing with excitement. This high-stakes India vs Pakistan clash follows India’s dominant group-stage victory over their rivals, keeping the rivalry alive on and off the pitch.
Former Indian cricketer Kiran More defended the match amid growing criticism of India-Pakistan encounters. “People criticize these games, but if it were a bilateral series, that might be different,” More said. “This is the Asia Cup—you have to play them. The government’s decision is spot on.” With India riding high on momentum, fans expect another thrilling performance from the Men in Blue against Pakistan in this marquee fixture.
The backstory adds extra tension. This marks the second India-Pakistan clash since the Pahalgam terror attack in April and India’s Operation Sindoor in May, which targeted Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. In the first meeting, India cruised to victory, chasing down 128 runs with seven wickets to spare. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav starred with a match-winning 3/18 spell, restricting Pakistan to 127/9 and earning Player of the Match honors.
But the real drama unfolded beyond the boundary. After the win, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube skipped handshakes with the Pakistani team and even shut the dressing room door on them, as TV footage showed. Suryakumar dedicated the triumph to India’s armed forces and expressed support for the Pahalgam victims.
Pakistan’s response escalated things. Skipper Salman Agha skipped the post-match presentation, sending coach Mike Hesson instead. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) then lodged a complaint against match referee Richie Pycroft, accusing him of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct and the spirit of cricket laws from the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).
Tensions boiled over before Pakistan’s next game against the UAE. The team canceled their pre-match press conference, locked themselves in the hotel, and threatened to withdraw from the Asia Cup unless Pycroft stepped aside. The match delayed by an hour, but after Pycroft met with Pakistan’s leadership, play resumed—and Pakistan won to advance to the Super Four. Ahead of this India rematch, Pakistan once again ditched their presser.
Later reports from ESPNcricinfo revealed Pycroft only learned about the no-handshake directive four minutes before the toss, passed on by the Asian Cricket Council venue manager. He acted as a messenger, not the decision-maker.
Post-meeting, the PCB issued a statement claiming Pycroft apologized. They even released a short video of the discussion—without audio—despite earlier concerns about recording it. The ICC reportedly isn’t happy and has considered a clarifying response, though nothing’s confirmed yet.
With all this off-field controversy swirling, both captains might carry some mental baggage into Sunday’s Asia Cup Super Four match. India plans to stick with their ruthless T20 form from recent months, while unpredictable Pakistan could channel the drama into surprises and a stronger showing. Cricket fans can’t wait to see if the pitch or the sidelines steal the show.
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