Pakistan vs UAE match clarity given by PCB

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a U-turn on their boycott of the Asia Cup 2025 and will take on the UAE in their final Group A match on Wednesday, September 17. Notably, the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected Pakistan’s request to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from the tournament.

Pakistan had threatened to withdraw from the Asia Cup after the match against India. The PCB sent a formal complaint to the ICC, alleging that Andy Pycroft failed to take action when Indian players, including captain Suryakumar Yadav, did not shake hands with the Pakistani team following the match in Dubai.

India-Pakistan Match Overshadowed by Handshake Controversy

India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in their Asia Cup 2025 Group A match at the Dubai International Stadium on September 14. Pakistan managed to score 127-9 in 20 overs after winning the toss.

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Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-18, while Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah took two wickets each. In reply, India chased down the target in the 16th over, with captain Suryakumar Yadav top-scoring with an unbeaten 47 runs off 37 balls.

The match was overshadowed by controversy over handshake traditions. Suryakumar Yadav had skipped shaking hands with Pakistan captain Salman Agha after the toss. Following the win, Surya and Shivam Dube again avoided handshakes with the Pakistan players.

Pakistan players shook hands among themselves on the field, while the Indian team did so inside the dressing room.

Pakistan Cancels Pre-Match Press Conference Ahead of UAE Clash

In response, Pakistan raised concerns over match referee Andy Pycroft’s role after the handshake controversy during the clash against India. The Pakistan Cricket Board appealed to the ICC to remove him from the tournament.

However, the ICC dismissed the plea to remove the match referee. Former West Indies cricketer Richie Richardson is set to step in as the new referee for Pakistan’s upcoming matches in the eight-team tournament.

Pakistan also canceled a pre-match press conference just ahead of their match against the UAE, raising eyebrows. A boycott could have cost the PCB around USD 16 million in revenue, an amount it could hardly afford compared to wealthier boards like the BCCI.

Pakistan to Play Match Against UAE Despite Boycott Threats

Pakistan, led by captain Salman Ali Agha, is set to play its next match against the UAE at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Wednesday, September 17.

The team trained at the ICC Academy in Dubai on the eve of the game, but players were seen doing an outdated football passing drill rather than high-intensity cricket practice.

Head coach Mike Hesson oversaw focused cricket drills separately. Pakistan must win against the UAE to keep their Super 4 hopes alive after their one-sided loss to India on Sunday.

Pakistan and the UAE have met in three T20Is. The Men in Green won their first encounter in the 2016 T20 Asia Cup by seven wickets and secured victories in both matches of the recent tri-series.

Also read: Naveen-ul-Haq ruled out of Asia Cup 2025 due to injury; replacement announced