Key Points
- Pakistan’s Asia Cup match against the UAE was delayed by an hour after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) threatened to boycott over a dispute with match referee Andy Pycroft.
- The controversy began during the India-Pakistan match on September 14, when Indian players refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts, citing solidarity with victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.
- The PCB claimed Pycroft instructed the captains to forgo the handshake at the toss, and subsequently demanded his removal from officiating Pakistan’s remaining matches.
- While the ICC rejected the demand to remove Pycroft, the PCB later issued a statement claiming the match referee had apologized for a “miscommunication”.
- Despite the off-field drama, the match proceeded, with Pakistan defeating the UAE by 41 runs to secure a spot in the Super Four stage.
Dubai: The Asia Cup 2025 was thrown into turmoil on Wednesday as Pakistan’s crucial match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was delayed by an hour amid a tense standoff between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC). The dispute centered on the role of match referee Andy Pycroft following a controversial “no-handshake” incident during the highly charged India-Pakistan game on September 14.
The Pakistan squad remained at their hotel past the scheduled departure time, fueling speculation of a potential boycott that threatened to derail the tournament. The match only proceeded after hours of negotiations, with the PCB ultimately claiming that Pycroft had apologized for his role in the incident.
The Handshake Controversy
The drama began after India’s match against Pakistan, when Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and his team declined to shake hands with the Pakistani players. The gesture was made in solidarity with the 26 victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack.
The PCB was incensed, alleging that Pycroft had instructed both captains to skip the traditional handshake at the toss, a move they argued violated the ICC’s Code of Conduct and the Spirit of Cricket. In response, the PCB lodged a formal complaint and demanded that the ICC remove Pycroft from officiating Pakistan’s subsequent matches.
Standoff and “Apology”
The ICC promptly rejected the PCB’s demand to replace Pycroft, escalating the situation. With the Pakistan team refusing to leave for the stadium, a boycott seemed imminent. The deadlock was finally broken just before the rescheduled toss when the PCB released a statement on social media platform X.
“ICC’s controversial match referee Andy Pycroft has apologised to the Pakistan cricket team’s manager, coach and captain,” the PCB stated, adding that Pycroft described the September 14 incident as a “miscommunication”. A video also surfaced showing ICC General Manager Wasim Khan mediating a discussion between Pycroft and Pakistan’s team management. While an ICC source suggested the apology was for a misunderstanding, the PCB’s announcement provided a face-saver, allowing the match to proceed. Despite the off-field chaos, Pakistan went on to defeat the UAE by 41 runs, advancing to the Super Four stage and setting up a potential rematch with India.
