Dubai, September 17 : The Pakistan cricket team showed up late to the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday, pushing back their Asia Cup 2025 clash against the UAE by an hour. The delay came after heated discussions inside the Pakistan camp over whether to boycott the game following a fallout with match referee Andy Pycroft.
Why the delay?
According to reports, Salman Ali Agha and his side left their hotel just 30 minutes before the scheduled toss. The official broadcaster confirmed that the match, originally set for 8 pm IST, would now begin at 9 pm IST.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi reportedly consulted former heads Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi before deciding the team should go ahead and play, though conversations about a possible boycott are still on the table.
PCB spokesperson Amir Mir confirmed the tense situation, saying:
“There’s an online meeting going on. For now, the match has been delayed by an hour. The discussions are on and the chairman will address the media as and when there’s something.”
Read More :- Pakistan vs UAE Live Streaming, Asia Cup 2025: How to Watch PAK vs UAE Match Online and on TV
What sparked the controversy?
This drama stems from Pakistan’s demand that the ICC remove Andy Pycroft as referee for the UAE game. The ICC refused.
Pycroft was also the referee during the fiery India vs Pakistan match, where the two sides walked off without shaking hands. According to the PCB, Pycroft told skipper Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands with India’s Suryakumar Yadav and even blocked the usual exchange of team sheets before the game.
The PCB called this a breach of the ICC Code of Conduct for Match Officials, specifically citing Article 2. They also accused Pycroft of conduct “contrary to the spirit of the game,” alleging that his actions brought disrepute to cricket and could have far-reaching consequences.
What happens next?
For now, the Pakistan vs UAE match is underway—just an hour later than planned. But with the PCB continuing to push back against Pycroft’s role, the controversy could linger throughout the Asia Cup.
