DUBAI, Sept 20 – Pakistan’s cricket team has skipped yet another pre-match press conference at the ongoing Asia Cup, marking their second no-show of the tournament ahead of a high-stakes India–Pakistan clash scheduled for tomorrow in Dubai.
While Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav attended the official media session, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) confirmed that no Pakistan representative would appear before reporters. When pressed for an explanation, Pakistan’s media manager declined to comment.
This follows an earlier incident before Pakistan’s game against the United Arab Emirates, where the team not only refused to attend the scheduled press conference but also threatened to boycott the match unless referee Andy Pycroft was replaced. That match eventually proceeded but with an unprecedented one-hour delay.
Tensions have escalated in recent days after India’s dominant win over Pakistan in the group stage, where Indian players declined to shake hands post-match. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha responded by boycotting the prize distribution ceremony, deepening the controversy ahead of the Super Four encounter.