Left red-faced after the International Cricket Council (ICC) dismissed their demand to replace match referee Andy Pycroft ahead of their do-or-die Asia Cup 2025 group game against the UAE at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the Pakistan team eventually took the field, but only after a delay of nearly an hour and with Pycroft as the match referee.
The drama began much earlier in the day. Hours before the scheduled start, uncertainty clouded the contest as the Pakistan players remained holed up at their hotel, even after their kit bags had already been loaded onto the team bus. The confusion escalated further when the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) abruptly deleted its social media posts about the match, fuelling speculation that Pakistan might refuse to show up altogether.
The origins of the controversy lay in the fallout from the infamous “no-handshake” episode during Pakistan’s earlier defeat against India. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) accused Pycroft of mishandling the matter, insisting that he had acted inappropriately. However, an ICC probe exonerated the official, concluding that he “did not breach any match protocols” and had, in fact, “helped prevent potential embarrassment for both captains by informing them that the organisers had decided to skip the handshake at the toss.”
Reasserting its authority, the ICC issued a categorical statement: “Appointment of match officials is a centralised ICC decision and it can’t be influenced by considerations of any member board. This would set a dangerous precedence for the future.”
Despite that clarification, the PCB continued to dig in. Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the ACC, consulted with former Pakistan board chiefs Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi before deciding on the next course of action. Soon after, PCB spokesperson Amir Mir confirmed that the start of the game had been officially delayed by an hour.
The deadlock was broken only when Naqvi intervened directly, posting on social media: “We have asked the Pakistan team to depart for the Dubai Cricket Stadium. Further details to follow.”
By that time, the UAE players were already present at the ground, underscoring the uncomfortable position Pakistan had put itself in while the Pycroft dispute lingered in the background.
As the evening wore on, the PCB attempted to temper the situation with a carefully worded statement. The board claimed that Pycroft had expressed regret over his role in the September 14 incident, characterising it as a misunderstanding.
“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,” the PCB statement 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.
Should Pakistan defeat the UAE, they will lock horns with India again on Sunday in Dubai in their opening Super Four clash, keeping the controversy alive.