Sunil Gavaskar calls for immediate action against Pak media
Sunil Gavaskar calls for immediate action against Pak media
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar extremely critical of the antics shown by the PCB in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 has insisted for immediate action before it is too late
The batting great suggested that the PCB should be questioned for skipping the mandatory press conference
Adding that what needs to be looked at is to give a miss to the mandatory media meet on the eve of the match.
It all started folllowing the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team having decided to give a miss to the customary handshake with the Pakistan players. India’s stance left Pakistan scratching the wall, with the PCB lodging an official complaint to the International Cricket Council (ICC) seeking the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft.
In its official mail, the board alleged that Pycroft failed to uphold the spirit of cricket.
their request was rejected by the global body, the PCB maintained their stance, and even threatened to pull out of their must-win game against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which was eventually delayed by an hour.
Gavaskar further went on to add that he didn’t understand the logic behind the PCB’s demand, since handshakes are not mandatory in the lawbook.
In his social media column the PCB complaining about it was hard to understand, as there is nothing in the rule books that says handshakes are mandatory. There are many earlier instances in different sports where opponents who have clashed have not shaken hands after their match has ended.
The ICC quite rightly ignored the protest, if indeed there was one made as per media reports,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar.
Gavaskar also suggested that the PCB need to be questioned for giving a miss to the mandatory press conference.
Adding that what needs to be looked at is the avoiding of the mandatory media meet on the eve of the match by the Pakistani contingent. They did not have to send the captain, players or the coach. Anyone among the large support staff could have met the media. That did not happen, and it will be interesting to see if any action is taken for avoiding what is mandatory.
Gavaskar also took a jibe at the PCB for delaying their clash against the UAE, saying that none has the right to hold the game to ransom.
He further went on to write in his column the other thing that left a sour taste in the mouth is holding up the game and starting it one hour late. If the PCB had any issues to discuss with and about the match referee Andy Pycroft, then it had two full days after their loss to India and before the game against the UAE in which to do so. By keeping everybody in suspense and not even turning up at the ground until almost the toss time, they held the game to ransom.
“There is simply no excuse for delaying the start of the game for an hour while haggling to get an apology from the match referee for something that was also not in any of the rule books. Then, despite the ICC, which appoints the umpires and match referees, saying there was no apology given, the PCB insisted that they had secured one and so agreed to play. They pounced on the words ‘regrettable miscommunication’ to say that this was the apology,” the batting great added.
News Edit KV Raman
