When Pakistan finally took the field against the UAE in Dubai on Wednesday, the Asia Cup match began under a cloud that had little to do with form or tactics. An hour-long delay, frantic calls between Lahore and Dubai, and the sudden spectre of a boycott turned routine pre-match preparations into a full-blown media circus.

This episode was not an isolated burst of indignation. It was the latest in a familiar pattern: a board that prizes theatrics and brinkmanship over consistency, with players left carrying the collateral damage.

Fans can debate whether the handshake snub was provocation, misunderstanding, or politicisation by India. The bigger question is simpler: did the PCB protect its players, or use them as bargaining chips? The answer is grimly obvious.

Yes, there is merit in defending players from perceived slights. But there is a world of difference between a quiet procedural protest and a public demand that risks boycotting a tournament. One seeks resolution. The other seeks optics. The PCB chose optics — and the players bore the weight.

In the latest episode of the Sledging Room podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Alan John and Debodinna Chakraborty discuss how Pakistan scored an own goal, again! 

Produced by Nikhil Khattar
 
Sound mixed by Aman Pal