Pakistan vs UAE, Asia Cup: Match starts after high drama; Pycroft apologises

The Asia Cup 2025 match between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) finally got underway in Dubai on Wednesday (September 17) evening after high drama.

The match was delayed by one hour after Pakistan's team refused to leave their hotel for the must-win group match after the country's demand to have Andy Pycroft removed as match referee was rejected for a second time by the ICC.

UAE won the toss and opted to field. Pycroft will remain as the match referee.

Pycroft apologises

In a statement, the Pakistan Cricke Board (PCB) said Pycroft had apologised.

"The ICC's match referee, Andy Pycroft, has apologised to the manager and captain of the Pakistan cricket team. Andy Pycroft had barred the captains of India and Pakistan from shaking hands during their match," it said.

"The Pakistan Cricket Board had strongly reacted to Andy Pycroft's actions. Andy Pycroft termed the September 14 incident a result of miscommunication and apologised. The ICC has expressed its willingness to conduct an inquiry into the code of conduct violation that occurred during the September 14 match," it added.

Earlier, Pakistan had held Pycroft responsible for the embarrassment it faced after Indian players refused to shake hands following their match on Sunday (September 14) as a gesture of solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.

"Pycroft will remain match referee for Wednesday's game and if Pakistan don't turn up, UAE will be awarded full points," well-placed tournament sources told PTI.

Also Read: ICC rejects Pakistan's demand to drop match referee; PCB chief deletes post

A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) source said the players "have been told to stay in their rooms and wait for further instructions."

The UAE team has, however, arrived at the stadium and will go through to the Super Four stage if the match is not played.

PCB’s allegation against Pycroft

According to the PCB, the 69-year-old Pycroft, who is a former Zimbabwe cricketer, had told its national captain Salman Ali Agha to refrain from shaking hands with his Indian counterpart Suryakumar Yadav.

The Pakistani team management also alleged that Pycroft did not allow the customary exchange of team-sheets between the two captains.

"This misconduct violates Article 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Match Officials, which specifically makes it an offence for the Match Referee to conduct himself in a manner which is contrary to the spirit of game and violates the MCC Laws," the PCB alleged in its first letter of complaint to the ICC.

"Given the gravity, political nature/background, and far-reaching consequences and repercussions, the misconduct has also caused disrepute to the game," it had stated.

Also Read: India thrashes Pakistan but unshaken hand echoes loudest

ICC rejected complaint

The ICC rejected these accusations and maintained the same position even when a second letter was sent by the PCB.

According to sources in the ICC and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), Pycroft had no role in the fiasco and "in fact saved Pakistan from being blind-sided by informing them about what the Indians were planning to do”.

Also Read: Amid handshake row, Raina claims Indian cricketers didn't want to play Asia Cup

Update from Lahore

PCB spokesperson Amir Mir speaks to reporters at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore: "Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chair, is meeting and discussing with former chairs Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi. They are discussing the issue and are in touch with Dubai over the matter.”

Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chair, posted on X, "We have asked the Pakistan team to depart for the Dubai Cricket Stadium. Further details to follow."

(With agency inputs)