A general view shows empty seats at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on September 17, 2025, ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 Twenty20 international cricket match between United Arab Emirates and Pakistan.
| Photo Credit: AFP
Unprecedented drama in the Asia Cup on Wednesday saw the Group-A fixture between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium delayed by an hour as Salman Agha’s men threatened to pull out of the tournament over its demand for match referee Andy Pycroft to be removed from the tournament.
The contest was supposed to begin at 6.30 p.m. local time, but the Pakistan team stayed put in its hotel beyond 5 p.m. even as the UAE players had begun warming up at the venue. The Pakistan players and support staff eventually left their hotel at 5.25 p.m. and entered the arena only at 6.30 p.m.
The trigger
Pakistan’s threats arose from India not exchanging handshakes with its players before or after the marquee game on September 14.
In the aftermath, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) alleged that Pycroft had asked the captains to not shake hands at the time of the toss, and sought the Zimbabwean’s removal.
Despite the brouhaha, Pycroft stayed on as the match referee for Wednesday’s game.
Once the match began, the PCB sent out a statement that read: “ICC match referee Andy Pycroft has apologised to the manager and captain of the Pakistan cricket team. Pycroft had prohibited the captains of both teams from shaking hands during the India-Pakistan match. The Pakistan Cricket Board had strongly reacted to this action by Pycroft. Pycroft described the incident on September 14 as a result of miscommunication and apologised. The ICC has expressed readiness to investigate the violation of the Code of Conduct during the match on September 14.”
However, a source in the ICC made it clear that Pycroft had apologised to the PCB only for the miscommunication and not the incident itself.
According to those in the know, Pycroft was simply passing on the message of the Asian Cricket Council’s venue manager to the captains of India and Pakistan at the toss.
“The ICC’s review found that Pycroft had acted in complete accordance of the Code of Conduct and highlighted to the PCB how there were no grounds for his removal or re-assignment of duties. The PCB had sent two letters to the ICC, and got a response to both. The ICC has asked the PCB to provide further information or evidence that demonstrates any violation. It is awaiting the same,” the source told The Hindu.
Published – September 17, 2025 07:49 pm IST
