Asia Cup 2025: Pakistan withdraw from UAE group-stage match amid ‘handshake’ row – Reports

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In a dramatic twist, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is seriously considering boycotting their Asia Cup 2025 group-stage encounter against the UAE. The match, scheduled at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday (September 17), now hangs in uncertainty.

According to Hindustan Times, the players have been asked to remain at their hotel until the board provides a final directive. The decision comes after the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected Pakistan’s demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft. The PCB had earlier filed complaints following the heated ‘handshake gate’ episode in the India-Pakistan clash. Hours before the must-win game, the team management reportedly informed the squad of the boycott stance. Luggage and kits were packed onto the bus, but the players were instructed to stay put. A press conference in Lahore later today is expected to confirm the PCB’s final stance on this crisis.

“The team has been asked not to travel to the stadium now. The bags and kits have all been loaded on the team bus, but the team has been asked to stay put. The deadlock persists between the PCB and the ICC,” an insider was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

The timing of this boycott could not have been more critical for Pakistan. Led by Salman Agha, the team is under immense pressure after a heavy seven-wicket defeat to India in their previous outing. Their final group match against the UAE was a do-or-die scenario, with progression to the Super 4s hinging entirely on victory. Now, with the board instructing players to remain in the hotel, their campaign faces an abrupt collapse.

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The root of this standoff lies in the fallout from Sunday’s blockbuster India-Pakistan fixture. Following India’s emphatic win, skipper Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the victory to the Indian Armed Forces while also paying tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. Adding to the tension, Suryakumar’s team reportedly declined post-match handshakes with their Pakistan counterparts, triggering outrage within the PCB. In response, the board lodged a formal complaint with the ICC, holding match referee Pycroft accountable for failing to intervene in what they described as unsporting conduct.

However, the ICC dismissed the protest, clarifying that Pycroft had not breached any regulations. Determined to press the matter, the PCB submitted a second letter demanding Pycroft’s removal, but once again the request was rejected. According to Hindustan Times, this back-and-forth left the PCB frustrated, escalating their threat to pull out of the tournament. Officials believe that continuing under Pycroft compromises fairness, while the ICC insists the official acted within his mandate. The unresolved dispute has now reached a breaking point, with Pakistan signalling it may sacrifice competitive stakes to uphold its protest. This hardline position not only intensifies tensions with the ICC but also casts a shadow over the tournament’s integrity.

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