EXPLAINED: What will happen if Pakistan team boycott their Asia Cup 2025 match against UAE in Dubai?

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Following a dramatic turn of events, as per Cricbuzz reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has threatened to boycott their crucial Asia Cup 2025 match against the UAE in Dubai. This unprecedented move stems from a controversial handshake incident involving the Indian team and the actions of match referee Andy Pycroft. Should Pakistan follow through with its threat, it could face severe consequences, not only impacting its tournament standing but also their future relationship with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the International Cricket Council (ICC).

If Pakistan proceeds with their threat to boycott the match against the UAE, it would trigger a series of immediate and dire consequences for the team’s tournament run. According to the tournament rules, refusing to take the field would result in an automatic forfeit, granting the win and all associated points to the UAE. This would leave Pakistan with a mere two points in the group stage from their sole victory against Oman.

With India having already secured their place in the Super 4, a win for the UAE would elevate their points total, allowing them to advance to the next round. This scenario would effectively eliminate Pakistan from the Asia Cup at the group stage itself, bringing an abrupt and disappointing end to their campaign. It would be a significant setback for a team that was expected to challenge for the title and the loss of a Super 4 spot would be a major blow to their tournament aspirations.

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Pakistan and the UAE have experienced contrasting fortunes in the Asia Cup so far, with both teams facing significant challenges and triumphs. Pakistan, after winning their opener against Oman, came crashing down in a high-stakes match against arch-rivals India. Their batters struggled against a disciplined bowling attack, getting restricted to a score of 127/9, which proved to be an easy target for the Indian side, resulting in a seven-wicket loss.

On the other hand, the UAE had a disastrous start to their campaign, with India bowling them out for a mere 57 runs in their opening encounter. However, they demonstrated resilience by bouncing back in their next match to secure a crucial win against Oman, a victory that was instrumental in confirming India’s Super 4 qualification and kept their own hopes alive. With a pivotal game against Pakistan approaching, the UAE has a chance to pull off an upset and secure a spot in the next round.

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