DUBAI: The Pakistan cricket team has arrived at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s instructions, despite no official confirmation yet on their Asia Cup 2025 fixture against the United Arab Emirates amid handshake row with match referee Andy Pycroft after the India clash.
Earlier, the PCB chief asked the national team to travel to Dubai Stadium. “We have asked the Pakistan team to depart for the Dubai Cricket Stadium. Further details to follow,” the PCB chief wrote on X.
After the clearance from the cricket board, the national cricketers were seen boarding the team bus in high spirits and are likely to reach the venue in around 40 minutes.
Amir Mir, Advisor to PCB chief, earlier announced that the Asia Cup 2025 clash has been postponed for an hour as the match referee row continues.
“The consultation process is underway. PCB chairman is holding deliberations with former PCB chairs Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi,” he said while addressing press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium.
The match will now commence at 8:30pm as per Pakistan Standard Time (PST), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said. The toss for the delayed fixture will now take place at 8pm time after the delay.
Earlier, the national team was instructed to stay in the hotel with just less than two hours remaining before their final group-stage fixture against UAE.
The development came after the Pakistan cricket team did not travel to the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, which will host their remaining group-stage fixture against the UAE.
The national team was originally scheduled to leave for the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai at 5pm, but the players did not come out. The bus remained parked outside the hotel for half an hour, but the players remained inside.
The controversy arose after Pakistan and India captains skipped a handshake at the toss during their September 14 Asia Cup 2025 clash, an omission reportedly directed by Pycroft.
PCB pens second letter to ICC
Meanwhile, the sources have said that the PCB has penned another letter to the ICC over the latter’s refusal to accept its demand of Pycroft’s removal from the Asia Cup 2025
Taking a firm stand on the issue, the PCB has rejected the ICC’s decision to not take action against the match referee.
The board, as per the sources, has refused to play matches supervised by Pycroft and is standing on its decision to boycott the matches if its demands are not met.
Furthermore, the PCB has termed the ICC’s inquiry against the match referee as a mere formality, stressing that neither all aspects were examined for inquiry nor were relevant people contacted.
In its letter, the PCB has said that Pakistan will agree to play after all its reservations are addressed, and a formal announcement of acceptance of the demand is made.
Highlighting ICC’s increasing woes, the sources said that the cricketing authority has no choice but to remove the umpire from Pakistani matches after Pakistan’s tough stance.
Sources also say that the PCB has not received any response from the ICC on its demand so far.
“If the referee change is not confirmed, the Pakistan team will not leave for the stadium,” the sources said, adding that the national side will only reach the stadium if the board receives an email confirming the referee change.
With the ball now in the ICC’s court, the Men in Green have been directed to complete their preparations for the match as the team will depart for the stadium if the referee change is confirmed shortly before the match.
Separately, the sources have also said that the national side is optimistic about featuring in today’s fixture.
They further added that former West Indies captain Richie Richardson is likely to be appointed as the match referee for Pakistan’s match against the UAE today.
Handshake controversy
Not only did the Indian skipper avoid handshake at the toss, but he repeated the same after the match ended, when the players of the opposing teams are supposed to shake hands as per cricketing tradition.
While the Indian players congratulated each other at the dugout after the match, they refrained from acknowledging or shaking hands with the Pakistani team.
Pakistan’s players lined up expecting the customary handshake, only to see the Indian team retreat and close the dressing room doors.
Later, India’s victorious captain, Suryakumar, defended his team’s decision not to shake hands with the Pakistan players, saying that it was taken in alignment with their government and cricket board.
The move prompted a strong reaction from the cricketing fraternity as well as Mohsin Naqvi, who heads both the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and is also the serving head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
Not only did Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha, in protest, refused to attend the post-match presentation ceremony, breaking from broadcast norms where captains usually share their thoughts, the PCB has filed a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), calling for the removal of match referee Pycroft from the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 — for reportedly instructing the omission of the customary handshake.
