PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi Rallies Pakistan Team Amid India Clash

Sep 21, 2025 - 00:00

Mohsin Naqvi, the Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also convened the national team on Saturday at the Oval Two facility at the ICC Academy to boost morale before the Super Four blockbuster game with India in the ACC Men T20 Asia Cup 2025.

Naqvi met all the players, including captain Salman Ali Agha, and had a short talk with head coach Mike Hesson. I simply went there to motivate players. The meeting with the players and the management was terrific. Naqvi added that morale had been boosted before the defining clash.

The visit is also accompanied by tension after the previous meeting, which involved the so-called handshake controversy, with Suryakumar Yadav of India declining the traditional toss handshake with Salman Ali Agha and the preceding meeting.

The gestures were also lacking after the match, with the Indian players directly heading to the dressing room, which led to the Pakistan team’s management officially complaining about the match referee, Andy Pycroft.

Pakistan has previously cancelled its planned pre-match press conference earlier in the day, with no reasons given. On the second occasion, this has been done during this tournament. According to the sources, the decision demonstrates that the PCB is still dissatisfied with how the match officials conducted the previous incident.

Irrespective of the uproar, Pakistani players were training vigorously whereas Indian players were finishing their program before Naqvi entered. As India is said to have maintained a no-handshake policy, the conflict on Sunday is not only going to be an intense match with a ball, but also a trial of sportsmanship between the two opponents.