Asia Cup organisers step in amid India-Pakistan handshake controversy with a new rule for journalists

The ongoing Asia Cup, which is taking place in the T20 format for only the third time ever, has witnessed as much drama off the field as it has on it. And while the spotlight is shining brightly on the ICC as well as the BCCI, PCB and match referee Andy Pycroft, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has decided not to be a complete spectator amid the political drama that the continental showpiece event finds itself mired in.

Ahead of India’s final Group A match against Oman, the governing body for cricket in Asia has barred journalists from asking political questions during press conferences, limiting them to cricketing questions.

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According to news agency Press Trust of India, the new rule first came into force during India’s pre-match press conference that was attended by in-form left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav, with an ACC official asking mediapersons to “refrain from asking any political questions”.

The response from the ACC is similar to how the BCCI had shut down a question on playing Pakistan at the Asia Cup that was posed to captain Suryakumar Yadav and chief selector Ajit Agarkar during the squad announcement in Mumbai last month.

How things got political at the Asia Cup

The Asia Cup has witnessed some electric clashes so far, primarily in Group B where Sri Lanka had a narrow escape against Hong Kong earlier this week and Bangladesh pipped Afghanistan the next day to keep their campaign alive.

Meanwhile, Group A – which includes arch-rivals India and Pakistan – has been in the headlines for political reasons more than anything else. While it has its fair share of cricketing drama, it is the fallout between India and Pakistan that has overshadowed everything else that has happened not just in the group but on the tournament as a whole.

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Just four months after the two nations engaged in a four-day military conflict following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian and Pakistani teams found themselves facing each other on the cricketing field.

And while the Men in Blue lived up to their favourites’ tag with a clinical seven-wicket win, it was their decision to not shake their opponents’ hands after the match that has snowballed into a massive controversy.

Captain Suryakumar, as well as his deputy Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir, later dedicated the victory to the Pahalgam victims as well as the Indian armed forces.

And in addition to discussing key talking points from his team’s second victory in as many meetings against Pakistan this year, Surya was also peppered with politically-charged questions during the post-match press conference.