The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has created a U-turn on its boycott of the Asia Cup 2025 and will take the UAE in its final group A match on Wednesday, 17 September. In particular, the International Cricket Council (ICC) dismissed Pakistan’s request to remove the match referee Andy Picroft from the match referee and tournament.
Pakistan threatened to withdraw from the Asia Cup after the match against India. The PCB sent a formal complaint to the ICC, alleging that Andy Picroft failed to take action when the Indian players, including captain Suryakumar Yadav, joined hands with the Pakistani team after the match in Dubai.
India-Pakistan match seen by handshake controversy
India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in their Asia Cup 2025 Group A match at Dubai International Stadium on 14 September. Pakistan managed to score 127-9 in 20 overs after winning the toss.
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Kuldeep Yadav was the bowlers’ pick with 3–18 figures, while Exer Patel and Jasprit Bumrah took two wickets each. In response, India chased the target in the 16th over, away from 37 unbeaten 37 balls with the top scoring with Captain Suryakumar Yadav.
The match was seen by controversy over the handshake traditions. Suryakumar Yadav left hands with Pakistan captain Salman Aga after the toss. After the victory, Surya and Shivam Dubey again avoided handshake with Pakistan players.
Pakistan players joined hands 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 expressed concern over the role of match referee Andy Picroft after the handshake controversy during the struggle against India. The Pakistan Cricket Board appealed to the ICC to remove him from the tournament.
However, the ICC dismissed the petition to remove the match referee. West Indies cricketer Richie Richardson is set to step into an eight-team tournament as a new referee for Pakistan’s upcoming matches.
Pakistan also canceled a pre-match press conference just before its match against UAE, increasing eyebrows. A boycott can cost PCB around USD 16 million in revenue, an amount that can hardly bear compared to rich boards such as BCCI.
Pakistan to play matches against UAE despite a boycott threat
Pakistan is ready to play its next match against UAE under the leadership of Captain Salman Ali Aga Dubai International Cricket Stadium Wednesday, September 17 in Dubai.
The team trained at the ICC Academy in Dubai on the eve of the game, but the players were seen drilling an old football passing instead of high intensity cricket practice.
Head coach Mike Hessen oversaw focused cricket separately. Pakistan should win against UAE to keep their super 4 expectations alive after a unilateral defeat in India on Sunday.
Pakistan and UAE are found in three T20s. The Men in Green won their first encounter with seven wickets in the 2016 T20 Asia Cup and recently won both the Tri-series matches.
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