When he was seen and questioned by the media on Saturday as he was leaving Pakistan’s net session at the ICC Academy in Dubai, Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), did not comment on the situation. Nevertheless, he stoked conversations by making a mysterious comment about getting asked the same question over and over again while grinning and saying, “We’ll talk soon.”
For the second consecutive year, the Pakistani cricket team avoided the media by skipping the pre-match news conference before their Super Four match against India in the Asia Cup 2025. Prior to the group-stage match against the hosts, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan had cancelled the same. Their habitual avoidance of the media has given rise to conjecture.
Amid rumours that they would withdraw from the tournament following the PCB’s dispute with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the no-handshake incident in the India-Pakistan match, Pakistan cancelled their press conference on the eve of their final group-stage match against the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, September 17.
After determining that match referee Andy Pycroft had done nothing wrong by telling the players not to shake hands prior to the toss, the ICC has already denied the PCB’s plea to have him removed from the continental tournament twice. The international cricket organisation has also criticised Pakistan for violating the Players and Match Officials Areas (PMOA) protocol by filming and releasing a video of a meeting between Pycroft and the team manager, coach, and captain of Pakistan.
On Saturday, Mohsin Naqvi attended the team’s training session. and was observed conversing with the players.
Mohsin Naqvi was then observed having a heated discussion with head coach Mike Hesson.
On September 21, Pakistan will play India in the Super Four stage in Dubai. At the same location, they lost to their bitter rivals by seven wickets and twenty-five deliveries remaining, their sole loss in the tournament.
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