DUBAI:
Ahead of Sunday’s Asia Cup Super Four clash, Pakistan has warned that India should not once again turn the cricket field into a political battleground.
The match should be played in the spirit of cricket.
“We are not eager to shake hands with Indian cricketers, but prior intimation should be given,” PCB sources stated.
Team management has instructed the players to stay away from off-the-field matters, focus solely on their game, and defeat India. Meanwhile, match officials have not yet been appointed, but Richie Richardson remains an option to serve as referee.
On the other hand, captain Salman Ali Agha said that Pakistan is ready to face every challenge, including India.
“We need to improve our middle-order batting. Shaheen Afridi’s batting has improved a lot,” he added.
According to details, following a tense opening encounter, Pakistan and India are set to meet again in the Asia Cup on Sunday at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. In the previous match, the Blue Shirts may have secured victory but completely disregarded sportsmanship spirit.
At the toss, their captain refused to shake hands with his counterpart, and at the conclusion, the Indian team avoided handshakes with Pakistani players. Suryakumar Yadav also made political remarks during his interview.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged a complaint with the ICC against the controversial behavior of match referee Andy Pycroft, demanding his replacement and even threatening a boycott otherwise. Due to this dispute, the Pakistan-UAE match was in jeopardy but eventually commenced an hour late after the referee’s apology and ICC’s assurance of an inquiry.
Now, before the Super Four clash of the arch-rivals in Dubai, concerns have again emerged that India might once more use the occasion for its political agenda. Sources revealed that the PCB has also spoken to the ICC about ensuring that match officials are clearly instructed in advance, emphasizing that political elements should not be allowed to enter the game.
“We are not eager to shake hands with Indian cricketers, but there should be prior clarity on this matter,” the sources added. Reportedly, match officials for the Super Four have not yet been finalized. Alongside Andy Pycroft, Richie Richardson is also available, and assigning him as referee for the Pakistan-India match remains an option.
Meanwhile, the team management has reiterated its advice to the players: stay away from off-field issues, concentrate on your game, and beat India.
Captain Salman Ali Agha, speaking after the win against UAE, said: “We are prepared for every challenge, including India, in the Super Four stage. We need to improve our middle-order batting, which is a concern and requires hard work. Apart from that, we fulfilled our responsibility well. We have yet to showcase our best batting; so far we’ve only managed around 150 runs. If we bat well in the middle overs, we can post 170 runs against any opponent.
“Shaheen Afridi’s batting has improved greatly; in bowling, he already performs brilliantly. Saim has brought us back into games several times with his bowling, and I hope he continues to do so till the end. If we keep playing the way we have over the past four months, we can prove to be a tough opponent for any team,” Salman concluded.
