(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
India and Pakistan are set to face off in a thrilling Super Four clash at the Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai this Sunday. BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla is all in on Team India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, and predicts they’ll grab the win against their arch-rivals.
Shukla’s confidence comes hot on the heels of India’s dominant seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the group stage. The Men in Blue chased down 128 runs with ease, thanks to a stellar bowling performance from spinner Kuldeep Yadav. He snagged 3 wickets for just 18 runs, holding Pakistan to 127 for 9 and earning Player of the Match honors.
This matchup carries extra weight after real-world tensions. It follows the Pahalgam terror attack in April and India’s Operation Sindoor in May, a bold strike against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. That group-stage win felt like a statement on the field.
But the real fireworks happened off it. After the victory, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and teammate Shivam Dube skipped the traditional handshake with Pakistan players. TV cameras caught the Indian team even closing their dressing room door on the opposition. Suryakumar dedicated the win to India’s armed forces and stood in solidarity with the Pahalgam victims.
Pakistan’s response added fuel to the fire. Skipper Salman Agha dodged the post-match presentation, leaving coach Mike Hesson to handle the media. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) then lodged a complaint against match referee Chris 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. They canceled their pre-match press conference and hunkered down in their hotel. The PCB even threatened to withdraw from the Asia Cup 2025 unless Pycroft stepped aside. The match started an hour late after a heated meeting between Pycroft and Pakistan’s leadership. Things calmed enough for play to resume, and Pakistan pulled off a win to advance to the Super Four. Ahead of this India rematch, they’ve canceled another presser.
Later reports from ESPNcricinfo revealed Pycroft only learned about the no-handshake decision four minutes before the toss. An Asian Cricket Council (ACC) venue manager passed the message—he was just the go-between, not the decision-maker.
Post-meeting, the PCB put out a statement claiming Pycroft apologized. The ICC wasn’t thrilled about that spin, and talks swirled about a clarifying response, though nothing’s confirmed yet. The PCB also shared a short video of the meeting—without audio—despite earlier worries about recording it.
All this drama from the last India-Pakistan cricket showdown will likely linger in the players’ minds. India plans to keep up their ruthless form from recent months. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s unpredictable T20 side could channel the controversy into some surprises on the field. Fans can’t wait to see how it unfolds in this high-stakes Asia Cup 2025 rivalry.
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