Pakistan’s must-win game against UAE at the Asia Cup was delayed after multiple reports confirmed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stopped its team from leaving for the stadium and the players were told to wait in the team hotel for further updates. PCB chairman and Asia Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi later confirmed on his X account that “we have asked the Pakistan team to depart for the Dubai Cricket Stadium. Further details to follow.”
The confusion over Pakistan’s participation in Wednesday’s match cast a pall of uncertainty over their further involvement in the tournament underway in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Reports also confirmed that the PCB has called an urgent press conference at its headquarters where a clearer picture is expected.
The match between Pakistan and UAE was delayed by an hour. (Express Photo by Sandip G)
After Indian players refused to shake hands with their Pakistan counterparts during their group fixture on Sunday, the PCB has been calling for match referee Andy Pycroft to be replaced. In a communication with the International Cricket Council, PCB had demanded that the Zimbabwean be removed from his post for the match against UAE and be replaced by Richie Richardson as they claim that he had instructed captains Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands at the toss. However, the ICC hasn’t adhered to PCB’s request and in fact, Pycroft turned up at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday as per the match roster. Back and forth between the two bodies continued as Wednesday’s match was delayed.
PCB has contended that Pycroft had informed Agha that there won’t be any handshakes during the toss after Surya had taken the call to not shake hands in light of the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor. While the match between the arch-rivals went ahead, there were no customary handshakes between the two teams after India’s victory either.
After the match, Indian players headed into the dressing room even as Pakistan players and their support staff waited. Later, Pakistan didn’t turn up at the post-match award presentation with head coach Mike Hesson expressing his disappointment at the press conference at the Indian gesture.
Since then, the PCB has been demanding that Pycroft be removed from the match, a request that the ICC has refused to entertain. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi also heads the Asian Cricket Council, which is hosting the event.
