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The India-Pakistan Asia Cup final introduces a unique two-broadcaster toss, yet Pakistan's controversial media management dominates headlines. Their team has repeatedly avoided Indian journalists, skipping press conferences and restricting questions. This communication approach, amidst on-field struggles, has drawn sharp criticism, contrasting with India's open engagement. The PCB's vague response further fuels the controversy.

The Asia Cup 2025 is embroiled in controversy after India's refusal to shake hands with Pakistan sparked a major standoff. The PCB demanded the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft, delaying a match against the UAE. The ICC accused PCB of protocol breaches, including unauthorised recording within the PMOA.

The Asia Cup is marred by a handshake controversy following India's victory over Pakistan, escalating with Mohammad Amir's veiled critique of the Indian team via a social media post praising Virat Kohli. This incident led to scheduling disruptions, including a delayed Pakistan-UAE match due to PCB's concerns over the match referee.

It remains to be seen how the PCB responds to the strongly-worded email, as they are yet to furnish details in response to another email sent by the global cricket body to the PCB on September 17 — the day the drama unfolded and the fixture was delayed by an hour.

Amidst controversy and tension, Pakistan's captain, Salman Ali Agha, asserts his team's readiness for the Super Four clash against India. Despite past incidents, including handshake disputes and standoffs, Salman emphasises the need for batting improvement, particularly in the middle order. He expresses confidence in the team's ability to overcome any challenge if they maintain their recent performance level.

Amidst uncertainty surrounding Pakistan's Asia Cup participation, the PCB demanded match referee Andy Pycroft's removal, alleging code of conduct violations during the India-Pakistan match, specifically regarding the captains not shaking hands. Despite PCB's threats and ACC's involvement, the ICC stood firm, asserting Pycroft followed ACC instructions and didn't violate any rules.

The ICC rejected PCB's request to replace match referee Andy Pycroft during the Asia Cup after Pakistan alleged he instructed their captain to avoid handshakes with India's captain. The ICC clarified that ACC officials informed Pycroft about the no-handshake policy.

The ICC is likely to reject the PCB's demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft, following allegations that he instructed captains not to shake hands. Sources suggest Pycroft may have been acting on instructions from the ACC. The PCB, led by chief Mohsin Naqvi, threatened to withdraw from the tournament if their demand wasn't met.