The Pakistan cricket team withdrew its threat to pull out of the Asia Cup and showed up for its crucial game against the UAE on Wednesday, but not before causing a significant delay and claiming to have received an apology from match referee Andy Pycroft. This follows an intense period of drama stemming from the “no-handshake” incident after Pakistan’s match against India.
The controversy originated from the match against India last Sunday, where Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav refused to shake hands with rival skipper Salman Ali Agha in a show of solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Pakistan had lodged two separate complaints with the ICC demanding Pycroft’s removal, which the world body summarily rejected.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday announced that the Asia Cup group-stage clash between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates has been delayed by an hour. PCB spokesperson Amir Mir confirmed the development in a brief press conference in Lahore, reported Dawn news.
“The consultation process is ongoing and PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi is in discussions with former chairmen Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi. At the same time, negotiations are also underway with officials in Dubai. Immediately, the match between the UAE and Pakistan has been delayed by one hour,” Mir said, adding that Naqvi would personally make the final announcement.
The statement came after a turbulent 24 hours in which several reports suggested that Pakistan might boycott the match. Geo News reported earlier that the team had been instructed to return to their hotel rooms, while their bus, seen outside the hotel, unloaded kit bags and equipment. Footage aired on DawnNewsTV also showed staff loading bags onto a bus said to be headed towards the stadium.
#WATCH | Asia Cup 2025 | Ahead of the Pakistan Vs UAE match in Dubai, a Pakistani supporter says, “Pakistan team is still at the hotel. They have not reached here (stadium). PCB has announced that they won’t play today’s match over the issue of the change of umpire. Pakistanis… pic.twitter.com/0A29qpyxoF
— ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2025
The logjam was reportedly resolved after Pycroft “tendered an apology for miscommunication during Pakistan’s game against India last Sunday”, news agency PTI reported. The PCB also asserted that the ICC would investigate its complaint against the 69-year-old Pycroft. “The ICC has expressed its readiness to investigate the violation of the Code of Conduct during the match on September 14,” the PCB stated.
This follows the high-voltage India–Pakistan clash on Sunday, where Indian players, led by skipper Suryakumar Yadav, refused the customary handshake after sealing victory. In response, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha skipped the post-match presentation ceremony.
ICC Puts Ball Back in PCB’s Court
In a conflicting statement, a PTI source within the ICC said the apology was only for the “miscommunication.” The source added, “…and the ICC will only conduct its investigation when the PCB furnishes further evidence as to who was at fault for this entire mess.”
The ICC gave a six-point rebuttal to the PCB, maintaining that the board’s complaints were “baseless” and that there was “no case to answer on part of the match referee.” The ICC’s communication stated, “The actions that match referee took was, following clear directions to him from ACC (Asian Cricket Council) Venue Manager, were consistent with how a match referee will deal with such an issue, communicated as it was with no time for him to do anything else (minutes before the toss).”
The ICC was clear that Pycroft was committed to “preserving the sanctity of the toss and avoiding any potential embarrassment that might have arisen. The Match Referee was not at fault in any of this.” The ICC concluded its statement with a terse message: “…the PCB’s real concern or complain relates to the actual decision that handshakes didn’t take place. The PCB should therefore direct those complaint to the tournament organiser and those who took the actual decision (which was not the Match Referee). The ICC doesn’t have a role in that.”
Withdrawal Threat, Financial Stakes
Earlier in the day, there was intense drama as the Pakistan team refused to leave its hotel after learning that Pycroft would remain the match referee. Teams are required to report to the stadium two hours before the start of the game, which Pakistan failed to do in protest.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was reportedly advised by two former PCB chairmen, Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi, before making the decision to continue playing, as the board could have lost up to USD 16 million for pulling out of the tournament. The team finally departed for the stadium after Naqvi’s social media post stating, “We have asked the Pakistan team to depart for the Dubai Cricket Stadium. Further details to follow.”
Upon arriving at the stadium, Pycroft was seen sitting with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, head coach Mike Hesson, and team manager Naveed Akram Cheema. The PCB later released a statement on X (formerly Twitter) reiterating its claim: “ICC’s controversial match referee Andy Pycroft has apologized to the manager and captain of the Pakistani cricket team.” It added that Pycroft “termed the incident on September 14 as a result of miscommunication and apologized.”
This is not the first time cricket boards have clashed over match officials. In 2001, India and South Africa jointly pushed for the removal of referee Mike Denness after disciplinary rulings against six Indian players. Although both boards agreed, the ICC refused to ratify the change, setting a precedent that appears to be repeating now.
