Sunil Gavaskar didn't hold back in his assessment of an Indian player's performance following a crucial blunder during their Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 match against Pakistan. While details of the specific error and the player involved weren't explicitly stated, Gavaskar's disappointment was evident, emphasizing the expectation of professionalism at this level.
Gavaskar's critique comes amidst a backdrop of intense scrutiny surrounding the India-Pakistan rivalry. The match itself was hard-fought, with Pakistan setting a target of 172 after recovering from a shaky start. Gavaskar, commentating on the game, noted that Pakistan's batsmen showed improvement compared to their previous encounter, where they struggled with cross-batted shots. This time, they focused on hitting straighter, which yielded better results. However, India's comeback with the ball in the second half of the innings and Pakistan's poor fielding, including dropped catches, were also highlighted.
Adding fuel to the fire, Gavaskar also criticized Pakistan for skipping the pre-match press conference for the second consecutive time, having also avoided media interaction before their game against the UAE. He argued that press conferences are mandatory and provide an essential platform for teams to communicate directly with the media, preventing reliance on speculation. Gavaskar suggested that the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) should consider penalizing teams that fail to attend these conferences, potentially through point deductions. He acknowledged that while Mohsin Naqvi heads both the Pakistan Cricket Board and the ACC, the ACC has a governing committee that should address such issues.
Furthermore, the tension between the two sides extended beyond on-field play. Following India's victory in the group stage match, the Indian team refrained from the customary handshake with the Pakistani players, which drew criticism from some quarters. Shoaib Akhtar, former Pakistani fast bowler, voiced his disappointment, urging players not to politicize cricket.
Despite the pressures and controversies, Gavaskar expressed confidence in India's ability to handle any challenge from Pakistan. He noted the importance of being tested early in the tournament, referring to India's close win against Oman. As the Super 4 stage progresses, the India-Pakistan rivalry promises further intense cricket and heightened emotions, with Gavaskar's sharp observations adding to the narrative.
