(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Pakistan Team Heads to Dubai Stadium Despite Boycott Threats
The Pakistan cricket team has arrived at Dubai International Stadium for their crucial match against UAE, even as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) threatens to boycott the fixture. This comes amid rising tensions, with the game now delayed by one hour from its original schedule.
PCB spokesperson Amir Mir shared the latest updates during a quick press conference. "Consultations are still underway," he said. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi is in talks with former chairmen Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi, while online negotiations continue with officials in Dubai. The one-hour delay gives everyone a bit more time to sort things out.
Pakistan skipped their pre-match press conference on Tuesday but did hold a practice session. The decision ties back to their frustration with ICC match referee Andy Pycroft. The PCB wants him removed after filing a formal complaint against him for allegedly breaching the ICC Code of Conduct and MCC laws on the spirit of cricket.
The complaint stems from a heated moment after Pakistan’s recent clash with India at the same Dubai stadium. Team India refused to shake hands with the Pakistan players post-match, a move linked to the strained India-Pakistan relations following the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22. In that tragic incident, Pakistan-sponsored terrorists killed 26 tourists, deepening the rift between the two nations.
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav addressed the no-handshake decision while speaking to reporters after the win. "Some things in life matter more than sportsmanship," he explained. "I said this during the presentation too. We stand with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and their families. We show our solidarity. This victory is dedicated to our brave armed forces in Operation Sindoor—they inspire us, and we’ll do our best to inspire them back whenever we can."
On the other side, Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson voiced his disappointment over India’s stance. His team had approached for the traditional handshake, but it didn’t happen. "We were ready and willing to shake hands," Hesson told reporters in the post-match press conference. "It’s disappointing that our opponents didn’t. We walked over, but they’d already headed to the changing room. That was a tough way to end the match."
While Hesson didn’t directly blame the incident for captain Salman Agha’s absence, he hinted at its impact. As the PCB weighs its options, cricket fans are watching closely to see if the UAE-Pakistan match goes ahead smoothly. Stay tuned for more updates on this ongoing cricket controversy.
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