Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi smilingly ignored reporters’ queries on the Pakistan team canceling their pre-game press conference before the Asia Cup 2025 game against India on September 21 in Dubai.
This was the second time Pakistan had canceled their pre-game presser, the first time being before their Group A game against the UAE a few days before. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, at the centre of the storm, stayed tight-lipped when pressed but left reporters guessing with a cryptic parting remark.
PCB and ICC have been at odds ever since their demands over the removal of match-referee Andy Pycroft were rejected by the world cricketing body. PCB had blamed Pycroft for not instructing Pakistan captain Salman Agha at the toss about India’s no handshake policy during their Group A game in Dubai.
They were also miffed at him for doing nothing when the Indian team refused to shake hands with the Pakistani team after defeating them by 7 wickets in Dubai. Pakistan threatened to boycott the UAE game if Pycroft wasn’t removed, but ICC rejected their demands, and the match happened, despite a delay, with Pycroft at the helm.
Later, ICC accused PCB of "multiple violations" of the PMOA protocol during the Pakistan camp's meeting with Pycroft before the start of the match against the UAE last Thursday, as they filmed the interaction in a restricted and prohibited area and shared it on social media.
When Naqvi was sighted exiting Pakistan's net session at the ICC Academy on Saturday, reporters questioned why the team had avoided the media. The PCB chief, who also chairs the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), could only smile as he skirted the question.
But with the reporters were hell bent on getting a response, he said, "...we'll talk soon."
The ICC had, in fact, stressed that Pycroft's meeting with the Pakistan camp was only to clear up any confusion regarding the incident.
Naqvi was present in the Pakistan training nets on Saturday for a brief conversation with the players, including captain Salman Agha. He then went to meet head coach Mike Hesson.
