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DUBAI: Zimbabwean match referee Andy Pycroft will once again be on duty during the Pakistan-India encounter in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday.

Pycroft found himself at the heart of the handshake controversy during last week’s match between the neighbouring countries, who were engaged in cross-border tensions in May this year.

After the match, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) demanded Pycroft’s “immediate removal” after he instructed captains Salman Ali Agha and Suryakumar Yadav to skip the customary handshake at the toss.

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The fallout carried into Pakistan’s next game against the UAE, with the team delaying its arrival at the venue by an hour amid tense backroom discussions with the ICC.

It was only after a late meeting, in which Pycroft explained his stance and issued a private apology to Pakistan’s management, that the side agreed to take the field.

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Now, with the same official in charge, the high-voltage rematch comes under an added layer of intrigue.

Notably, both India and Pakistan will enter Sunday’s clash on the back of victories. India completed their group stage campaign unbeaten after defeating Oman, while Pakistan edged past the UAE in their final group match.

India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (wk).

Pakistan: Salman Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem.

READ: Pakistan seek redemption against India after handshake row

Pakistan and India are set to meet again on Sunday, September 21, in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup 2025, exactly one week after their previous encounter and the infamous handshake controversy.

India had won convincingly at the same Dubai venue, but what followed has turned this into far more than a cricket match.

The September 14 fixture was the first meeting between Pakistan and India since cross-border tensions resurfaced in May, and the unease was evident even before a ball was bowled.

Both captains skipped the customary handshake at the toss, something the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) alleged was instructed by match referee Andy Pycroft. According to the PCB, this move violated the spirit of cricket and the MCC’s code of conduct.

India’s seven-wicket win was quickly overshadowed by what came next. After sealing victory, Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube walked straight off as the rest of the Indian players celebrated in their dugout, refusing to acknowledge Pakistan.

Catch Asia Cup 2025 news updates here!

Salman Ali Agha’s men stood waiting in line for the traditional handshake, only to be left stranded. Head coach Mike Hesson later admitted the team felt insulted, and in protest, Pakistan’s captain skipped the post-match presentation.

Suryakumar, meanwhile, dedicated the win to victims of the Pahalgam attack and the Indian armed forces, a pointed reminder of the political backdrop.

The PCB responded with a formal complaint to both the ICC and MCC, demanding Pycroft’s removal from the Asia Cup. They even suspended their own Director of International Cricket, Usman Wahla, for delaying the official protest.

Behind the scenes, Pakistan threatened to boycott the tournament altogether. The standoff eventually eased after Pycroft privately apologised before Pakistan’s match against the UAE, but the damage was already done.

And so, tomorrow’s clash carries all that baggage. We know there will be no handshakes, no pretence of sportsmanship. This is shaping up to be a war on the field.

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For Pakistan’s players, the sting of insult is real, and they will want to respond. But here’s the truth: the only meaningful reply won’t come in press conferences or protests; it has to come through victory.

That is where the real concern lies. Amid all the drama, Pakistan’s on-field performance has been overlooked. Their performance against India was toothless, and even against minnows UAE, they barely scraped through.

Unless they lift their game dramatically, passion and politics will count for little.

So what can we expect on Sunday? High tensions, maybe a few flashpoints reminiscent of Afridi versus Gambhir, and certainly no handshakes.

But for Pakistan, the only response that truly matters, the only way to change the story, is to defeat India. Because in the end, nothing stings the opposition more than defeat.

Squads

India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (wk).

Pakistan: Salman Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem.

READ: Suryakumar Yadav snubs Pakistan again

Luca Zidane, the 27-year-old goalkeeper and son of French football great Zinedine Zidane, has switched his sporting nationality from France to Algeria, the Algerian Football Federation said on Friday.

“FIFA officially granted… goalkeeper Luca Zinedine Zidane authorisation to represent the Algerian national team,” FAF said in a statement.

FIFA’s “change of association platform” showed the decision was dated on Friday.

Luca Zidane represented France at youth levels and currently plays for Granada in Spain’s second division.

Since he never made the step up to the French national team, he remained eligible to play for Algeria, the country of his paternal grandparents.

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The North Africans have qualified for the 2025 African Cup of Nations, set to begin on December 21 in Morocco.

They are also leading their World Cup qualifying Group G with 19 points, needing either a win against Somalia or a draw with Uganda next month to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Zidane also played for Real Madrid’s reserve team after working his way up from its youth academy, which he joined in 2004.

He debuted with the main team in their last league game in the 2017-2018 season and was the third-choice goalkeeper when Real won their 13th Champions League title in 2018.

Although Zinedine Zidane was born in Marseille, his family was originally from a small village in Bejaia, some 250 kilometres east of Algiers.

READ: Germany World Cup winner Jerome Boateng announces retirement

Former Germany defender Jerome Boateng, who won the World Cup in 2014, formally announced his retirement from the game on Friday.

The 37-year-old centre-back uploaded a minute-long clip to his social media channels on Friday, bidding farewell to the game.

“I played for a long time, for big clubs, for my country. I learned, won, lost, and grew through it all,” Boateng said in a clip uploaded to Instagram, which included highlights from his career.

“Football has given me a lot, now it’s time to move on. Not because I have to, but because I’m ready.

 

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“I’m grateful to the teams, the fans, and the people who supported me. And above all, my family, my children. They’ve always been there for me.”

The defender played 76 times for Germany, scoring once.

Jerome Boateng won two Champions League titles with Bayern Munich, in 2013 and 2020, as well as nine Bundesliga crowns.

Born in Berlin, Boateng came through the Hertha Berlin academy alongside his half-brother Kevin-Prince, who is one year his senior.

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After brief spells at Hamburg and Manchester City, Jerome Boateng moved to Bayern.

Since leaving Bayern in 2021, Boateng bounced around clubs in several countries, playing for Lyon in France, Salernitana in Italy, and LASK in Austria.

He terminated his contract with LASK in mid-August.

Late in his career, Boateng was dogged by a trial relating to domestic violence allegations made by his ex-wife. After a review process, he received a warning and a suspended fine.

READ: India face injury scare ahead of Super Four clash against Pakistan

ABU DHABI: India all-rounder Axar Patel has emerged as a fitness concern ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster Super Four clash against Pakistan in the ongoing ACC Asia Cup 2025.

Patel sustained a head injury on Friday during India’s final group match against Oman. The incident occurred in the 15th over of Oman’s chase when Axar sprinted in from mid-off to attempt a catch off Hammad Mirza.

He juggled the ball, lost balance, and landed head-first on the turf. The 31-year-old immediately clutched his head and neck before being helped off the field by the physio. He did not return for the remainder of the innings.

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Axar had bowled just one over for four runs before the injury, but earlier contributed with the bat, striking 26 off 13 balls in a crucial 45-run stand with Sanju Samson (56) that lifted India to 188/8.

India eventually defended the total, securing a 21-run victory.

While fielding coach T. Dilip later said Axar was “fine,” the short turnaround before the Pakistan clash in Dubai leaves question marks over his availability.

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His absence could upset India’s preferred three-spinner balance, with Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav the other frontline options. Washington Sundar and Riyan Parag are on standby as potential replacements.

India squad for Asia Cup 2025

Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh.

READ: Suryakumar Yadav snubs Pakistan again

ABU DHABI: India captain Suryakumar Yadav once again snubbed Pakistan as he avoided taking the name of Sunday’s opponents during the post-match presentation after their Asia Cup 2025 match against Oman here at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Friday.

India concluded their group stage campaign at the top of Group A, remaining unbeaten after their victory over Oman. They are now set to face their arch-rivals, Pakistan, again in the Super Four clash in Dubai this Sunday.

During the post-match presentation, Sanjay Manjrekar asked Suryakumar Yadav about facing Pakistan again.

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Yadav responded with a brief four-word reply, showing that the team is unfazed by their next opponent.

Manjrekar inquired, “Are you all set for Sunday’s match against Pakistan?” Yadav replied, “We’re all set for the Super 4.”

The two arch-rivals faced off last Sunday in their group stage match, where India emerged victorious after a one-sided contest.

However, the match garnered attention more for the handshake controversy, as both captains neglected the traditional handshake after the toss.

Catch Asia Cup 2025 news updates here!

Even after hitting the winning shot, Suryakumar Yadav fist-bumped his partner Shivam Dube, and they went directly to the dressing room without shaking hands with the Pakistan team.

This incident led the PCB to file a complaint with the ICC, requesting that they dismiss match referee Andy Pycroft, whom they blamed for no handshake after the toss.

The Pakistan cricket team threatened to pull out of the tournament if Pycroft was not sacked. However, after Pycroft’s apology, they took the field for their final group stage match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday.

READ: Asia Cup 2025: Suryakumar Yadav hails ‘unbelievable’ Oman

ABU DHABI: India skipper Suryakumar Yadav shared his thoughts after his side’s victory over Oman, praising the opposition for displaying a commendable performance.

India kept their unbeaten run with a 21-run win over Oman in the last group stage fixture of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 here at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Oman fell short and could only score 167-4  in their 20 overs while chasing a target of 189 runs.

Aamir Kaleem emerged as the top scorer, making a solid 64 runs off 46 balls, featuring seven boundaries and two sixes, while Hammad Mirza provided support with 51 runs from 33 deliveries, which included five fours and two sixes.

Jiten Ramanandi also contributed with a brisk 12 runs off just five balls.

For India, the wickets were shared fairly, with Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Kuldeep Yadav each claiming one wicket.

Speaking in the post-match presentation, Surya hailed Oman for their above-par performance while stressing his batting position.

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“Definitely, I’ll try from the next game,” he said in a light-hearted manner on batting higher than the No.11 position.

“Overall, I feel Oman played an unbelievable brand of cricket. It was amazing—I really enjoyed watching them bat,” he said.

He backed Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, who played their first game in challenging conditions. Suryakumar Yadav also talked about Harik Pandya, who was excellent in the field and bowling after missing out in batting.

“It’s a little difficult when you’re sitting and suddenly you come out and play,” he said on Arshdeep and Harshit performances.

“It’s so humid here. Unfortunate how he got out, but you can’t keep him away from the game (on Hardik Pandya)—the way he bowled and the way he got out,” Yadav added.

READ: Dunith Wellalage set to rejoin Sri Lanka squad after father’s death

Sri Lanka all-rounder Dunith Wellalage is set to rejoin the team on Saturday morning ahead of their Super Four clash against Bangladesh in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 after going back home following the death of his father. 

The 22-year-old returned home after hearing about his father, Suranga Wellalage’s, sudden passing.

Wellalage discovered his father’s death only after the match, which Sri Lanka won by six wickets and with eight balls to spare, allowing them to qualify for the Super Four round.

Surranga Wellalage was also a former cricketer who had led Sri Lanka’s leading school teams.

Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed his availability for selection ahead of their first match in the Super Fours of the continental tournament. The Islanders will play Bangladesh tomorrow evening in Dubai.

“Dunith Wellalage, who returned home to pay his last respects to his late father, will rejoin the team tomorrow morning,” the board said in a statement.

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“He will travel to the UAE tonight accompanied by Team Manager Mahinda Halangode. “Sri Lanka will begin its Super Four stage campaign of the ongoing tournament tomorrow against Bangladesh in the UAE. Wellalage will be available for selection for the game,” it added.

The all-rounder is accompanied by team manager Mahina Halangode, who traveled back home with him on Thursday night.

For context, Dunith Wellalage is considered one of Sri Lanka’s emerging talents. However, he did not have the best of the outings in the game against Afghanistan. He remained expensive and conceded 49 runs and took one wicket in his quota of four overs.

Afghanistan were reeling at 137-7 in 19 overs. However, Mohammad Nabi tonked Wellalage for five sixes,an over yielding 32 runs, and took his team to a respectable total.

However, the total was not enough as Sri Lanka chased down the target against a strong Afghanistan bowling lineup with ease in 18.4 overs, losing just four wickets in the process.

READ: WATCH: Official song for ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 revealed

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said his side can ill afford a repeat of the “under-14s” defending that saw them thrashed 5-1 by Arsenal in February.

Guardiola’s men travel to the Emirates again on Sunday, already trailing the Gunners and defending champions Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

Man City lost two of their opening three games to Tottenham and Brighton., However, they have bounced back with comprehensive victories over Manchester United and in the Champions League over Napoli.

Erling Haaland starred in Man City vs Napoli clash as he scored his 50th goal in the Champions League.

The thrashing at the hands of his former protege, Mikel Arteta, was one of the low points in a miserable campaign for Guardiola.

City failed to win a trophy for the first time since 2017 and finished a distant third behind Liverpool and Arsenal.

“The game last season, we started like many times last season, like an under-14s team and gave away a thousand million goals,” said Guardiola when asked to reflect on his last visit to the Emirates.

“After we were, a lot of the time, pretty good considering how it was last season, but the last 15-20 minutes were a disaster.

“We forgot to do what we had to do, and it was easy for Arsenal. I want to compete to be a better team than we were last season.”

Both Liverpool and Arsenal massively outspent City in the transfer window in the battle for Premier League supremacy, and Guardiola took the opportunity for a dig at those who claim his six titles since arriving in England are due to the budget at his disposal.

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“The only thing I want to say to my friend Mikel Arteta is if he wins the title, it will be just because he spent money, not because he worked hard or because of his players,” Guardiola said sarcastically.

“It’s like Liverpool, too. If Arne (Slot) wins it again, it will be because he spent a lot of money, right? Because it’s not just Man City that (spend), right?”

Arteta left behind working as Guardiola’s assistant in 2019 and has slowly built Arsenal back into a force capable of competing for major trophies.

But he has still just won one piece of silverware, the 2020 FA Cup, after finishing second in the Premier League for the past three seasons.

“He found the club in a (certain) way and step-by-step, window by window, Arsenal is getting better,” added Guardiola.

“Last season in Europe, they made an incredible step forward, and they are, for me, the most solid team. They don’t make mistakes in the back.”

City begins the weekend three points behind Arsenal and six adrift of leaders Liverpool.

The challenge facing Guardiola’s side is heightened by the fact that they played their Champions League opener 48 hours after Arsenal, who won 2-0 at Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday.

Guardiola refused to be drawn into the scheduling debate but conceded it could be difficult for Ballon d’Or winner Rodri to start three games in eight days on his return from a major knee injury.

“With him in the pitch we feel more comfortable but, of course, after coming from a tough injury you have to be alert and we will decide on Sunday how he does feel.”

READ: Dominant Pakistan outplay Maldives 5-2 in SAFF U17 Championship

ABU DHABI: India survived a scare to beat Oman by 21 runs in the final group stage fixture of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 here at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Set 188, spirited Oman fell short and managed to score 167-4 in their 20 overs.

In pursuit of the target, the openers provided a solid start with 56 on the board. Jatinder Singh departed after scoring 32 from 33 balls with the aid of five fours.

However, Aamir Kaleem and Hammad Mirza paired up for a massive 93-run partnership, which kept Indian bowlers at bay in the middle overs.

The duo batted cautiously and took their team to the 150-run mark. The stand eventually culminated with Aamir Kaleem’s wicket, who was caught brilliantly by Hardik Pandya on the boundary line. He top-scored with 64 from 46 balls, striking seven fours and two sixes.

Mirza followed him shortly after, for a well-made 51 from 33 balls. The right-hander struck seven fours and two sixes in his gutsy knock.

With these wickets, Oman’s hopes for a memorable win were dashed as the asking rate was too much for the upcoming batters.

For India, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Hardik Pandya picked up one wicket each.

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Earlier, Sanju Samson’s half-century and Abhishek Sharma’s onslaught powered India to a formidable total against

India capitalized on the decision to bat first and amassed 188-8 in their 20 overs despite losing Shubman Gill for five.

After an early wicket, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson quickly steadied the innings,  adding a brisk 65 off 35 balls, which brought the total to 72 in 7.1 overs.

Sharma remained the core aggressor and made 38 from just 15 balls. His powerful knock featured two sixes and five fours.

However, Oman roared back with back-to-back wickets and put India in a precarious position at 73-3 in 7.3 overs. Meanwhile, Samson continued and played an anchoring knock off 56 from 45 balls.

Later on, cameos from Axar Patel (26 from 13) and Tilak Varma (29 from 18) helped the Men in Blue to finish strong.

For Oman, Shah Faisal remained the pick of the bowlers and picked up two wickets. Aamir Kaleem and Jiten Ramanandi supported him well with two scalps apiece.

READ: Australia skipper Pat Cummins ‘hopeful’ of playing in Ashes