The Pakistan cricket team has cancelled its scheduled pre-match press conference ahead of the highly anticipated Pakistan vs India Asia Cup Super Four fixture tomorrow (Sunday) at the Dubai International Stadium.

The decision was confirmed on Saturday, but team management offered no explanation for the move. A player or support staff member was initially set to address the media at 6 pm local time, yet the briefing was abruptly called off.

This is not the first time Pakistan has skipped media duties during the Asia Cup 2025. Earlier, they cancelled a press conference before their group-stage match against the United Arab Emirates, raising eyebrows about the team’s media strategy.

The latest decision also comes against the backdrop of the “handshake controversy” that marred Pakistan’s earlier group-stage clash with India.

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India won that September 14 game by seven wickets but refused to shake hands with their rivals after the match. The incident angered Pakistan and sparked widespread debate across cricketing circles.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged a protest with the International Cricket Council (ICC), alleging that match referee Andy Pycroft had advised skipper Salman Agha not to approach India’s Suryakumar Yadav for a handshake at the toss.

The PCB demanded Pycroft’s removal from their matches and even threatened to withdraw from the competition. After an apology from Pycroft, matches resumed, though the ICC has signaled it may launch a formal inquiry.

Pakistan eventually defeated hosts UAE to secure their Super Four spot, setting the stage for another high-voltage showdown with India.

Indian media, however, has reported that the team intends to stick with its no-handshake stance for Sunday’s clash, adding more fuel to the rivalry.

Because of strained political ties, the nuclear-armed neighbors only meet in neutral venues during multi-team tournaments. This makes the Pakistan vs India Asia Cup clash one of the most anticipated encounters in world cricket.