DUBAI: Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 match against the United Arab Emirates was thrown into uncertainty on Wednesday after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) demanded the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft, leading to a one-hour delay and raising questions over whether the fixture would go ahead.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi instructed the Pakistan team to travel to the Dubai International Cricket Stadium after players had initially been told to remain in their hotel, board officials, cited by Pakistani media, said.
The PCB spokesperson confirmed the delay, saying the match – originally scheduled for Wednesday evening – would start one hour later than planned. “Consultations are underway. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi is holding deliberations with former PCB chairmen Najam Sethi and Ramiz Raja,” PCB adviser Amir Mir told reporters in Lahore.
The row stems from Pakistan’s group match against India earlier in the tournament, when the Indian team refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts at the toss and after the game.
Pakistan later claimed that Pycroft, the match referee, instructed captain Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands with India’s skipper, fuelling accusations of bias.
“The PCB has taken a firm position. Pakistan will not participate in further matches of the Asia Cup 2025 unless the referee is changed,” a board official, quoted by local media, said on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the matter.
Officials said the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) convened an emergency meeting in Dubai to resolve the crisis, but no official announcement had been made by late Wednesday. Pycroft, the umpires and the UAE team were already inside the stadium, awaiting further instructions.
The tensions escalated further after Indian broadcaster NDTV reported that India captain Suryakumar Yadav had formally requested that Naqvi, who also serves as ACC president, be barred from presiding over the tournament’s trophy presentation. The ACC has yet to comment on the reported demand.
With less than 90 minutes before the scheduled toss, uncertainty hung over the fixture. Pakistan had been due to face the UAE in their final group-stage match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, but the referee row has cast doubt over whether the contest will proceed as planned.
