Dubai, Sep 18: The Pakistan cricket team, left red-faced after the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected their demand to replace match referee Andy Pycroft, finally took the field against the UAE in their crucial Asia Cup 2025 group match — nearly an hour behind schedule.
The day began in confusion as Pakistan players remained holed up in their hotel despite their kit bags being loaded onto the team bus. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) even deleted its social media posts about the match, sparking speculation that Pakistan might refuse to play altogether.
The controversy stemmed from the “no-handshake” incident during Pakistan’s earlier defeat to India. PCB had accused Pycroft of mishandling the situation, but an ICC probe cleared the referee, stating he “did not breach any match protocols” and had helped prevent potential embarrassment by informing both captains about the organizers’ decision to skip the handshake at the toss.
The ICC reaffirmed its authority, emphasizing that match official appointments are centralized and cannot be influenced by any member board. Despite this, PCB continued its stand, consulting with former officials before confirming the match delay. The impasse ended when PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi instructed the team to proceed to the Dubai Cricket Stadium.
Once on the field, the PCB issued a statement noting that Pycroft had apologized for the September 14 incident, describing it as a misunderstanding. “The ICC has expressed willingness to conduct an inquiry into the code of conduct violation that occurred during the September 14 match,” the statement added.
Should Pakistan defeat the UAE, they will face India again in their opening Super Four match on Sunday, keeping the Pycroft controversy in the spotlight.