**Asia Cup 2025: PCB Chief Meets Pakistan Players Ahead of Crucial India Clash**
*By Gaurav Tripathi | Sep 21, 2025, 12:36 PM*
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with the national cricket team at the ICC Cricket Academy in Dubai on Saturday. The meeting took place ahead of Pakistan’s highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025 match against arch-rivals India.
Naqvi, who also leads the Asian Cricket Council, was present during Pakistan’s training session but chose not to respond to media questions about the team’s ongoing media silence and the cancellation of their pre-match press conference.
**Media Silence Fuels Speculation**
For the second consecutive Asia Cup match, the Pakistan team avoided any media interaction by canceling their pre-match press conference. This unusual decision has sparked speculation about growing tensions within the camp.
The move comes amid controversies surrounding the tournament, particularly following India’s seven-wicket victory over Pakistan last Sunday. The match was overshadowed by an incident where Indian players declined a handshake from their Pakistani counterparts, intensifying the already charged atmosphere.
**Press Conference Controversy and Naqvi’s Cryptic Response**
When reporters approached Mohsin Naqvi as he left Pakistan’s net session on Saturday, they inquired about the team’s avoidance of the media. Instead of providing a clear answer, Naqvi simply smiled and dodged the question.
Upon further prompting, he responded briefly, “… we’ll talk soon,” leaving room for speculation that the PCB might organize another press conference to address both the handshake controversy and recent exchanges with the International Cricket Council (ICC).
**Unanswered Questions and ICC’s Clarification**
Despite pressure, Naqvi remained tight-lipped regarding the reasons behind the team’s continued media blackout amid escalating controversies. His ambiguous remarks left journalists guessing about the PCB’s next steps.
Earlier this week, PCB held a press briefing claiming that ICC match referee David Pycroft had apologized to the Pakistan camp over the handshake incident. However, the ICC quickly clarified that Pycroft’s meeting was intended only to clear up a miscommunication, not to issue an apology.
As the Asia Cup unfolds, all eyes will be on Pakistan and how they manage the off-field drama alongside their on-field performance in their critical clash against India.
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