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DUBAI: Former World Cup winner Sunil Gavaskar has criticised Pakistan team management’s decision to cancel their scheduled pre-match press conference on the eve of their high-voltage Super Four clash against India in the ACC Asia Cup 2025.
Pakistan were due to address the media at 6 pm local time on Saturday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, but the briefing was called off without explanation.
Speaking to the media, Gavaskar expressed concern over Pakistan’s approach to handling press obligations during major tournaments.
He stressed that such interactions are vital to maintain transparency and avoid unnecessary speculation.
“I don’t know what the thinking behind that is, but as far as I know, press conferences are mandatory,” Gavaskar said.
“If teams don’t hold them, I’m not sure what the penalties are, if any, but in today’s world, it’s important for the media to be involved and kept informed.”
The former India opener further underlined the need for direct communication, adding that openness between teams and the press helps build trust among fans.
“It’s always better for teams to convey their stance directly instead of relying on ‘sources’ or speculation. Perhaps Pakistan felt they had nothing new to share, which, frankly, isn’t surprising,” he added.
Sunil Gavaskar also touched upon the role of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), pointing out that decisions are taken collectively with input from all member nations.
“Yes, Mohsin Naqvi is the ACC president, but the organisation involves representatives from India, Sri Lanka, and other member countries,” Gavaskar remarked.
“There’s a governing committee that looks after tournaments like this, and they’ll want to understand what’s going on.”
He even suggested that stricter measures could be introduced to ensure compliance.
“If the rulebook makes press conferences mandatory, then perhaps a point deduction from the table could be an option going forward,” he said.
Notably, this was the second time Pakistan have skipped a press conference in the ongoing Asia Cup.
Earlier, they also declined to appear before the media ahead of their must-win group match against the UAE, at the height of the PCB’s row with match referee Andy Pycroft following the handshake controversy in the group-stage clash against India.
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