*Update:* DP World Asia Cup 2025 – Match 10 – Pakistan vs UAE. The match will start at 7:30pm local time. Toss will take place at 7:00pm.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has requested Asia Cup organizers to delay the start of today’s group-stage match between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates by one hour, as discussions continue over the fallout from the recent “handshake controversy” involving match referee Andy Pycroft.
The Pakistan team, which had not traveled to the Dubai International Cricket Stadium earlier in the day, has now departed from its hotel and is en route to the venue.
Further updates on the status of the match are awaited
The match between Pakistan and UAE has been delayed by an hour, says PCB spokesperson
“We have asked the Pakistan team to depart for the Dubai Cricket Stadium. Further details to follow” PCB Chairman
The Pakistan men’s cricket team has not yet traveled to the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, where they are scheduled to face the United Arab Emirates in less than an hour.
Several Pakistani media outlets have reported that the team will not take part in their final Asia Cup 2025 group-stage match. According to Geo News, Pakistan has decided to boycott the fixture following the fallout from the recent “handshake controversy” involving match referee Andy Pycroft.
However, no official announcement has been made so far.
The controversy arose when India refused to shake hands with Pakistan players after securing a landslide 7-wicket win in the rivalry clash in Dubai on Sunday. Pakistan expressed its dissapointment by pulling out of the post-match presentation.
The handshake row escalated after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged a complaint against Pycroft, accusing him of violating the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC laws relating to the spirit of cricket. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) will not entertain Pakistan’s request.
India’s stance on refraining from engaging in shaking hands with their counterparts was linked to the strained relations between the two nations in the wake of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, during which Pakistan-sponsored terrorists killed 26 tourists.
After the conclusion of the contest, the Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav explained the team’s stance to refuse a handshake with Pakistan and said, while speaking to reporters, “I feel a few things in life are ahead of sportsman spirit. I have told it at the presentation as well. We stand with all the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.”
“We stand with their families also and express our solidarity. As I said, we dedicate this win to our brave armed forces who took part in Operation Sindoor. As they continue to inspire us all, we will try our best to, whenever given the opportunity, inspire them as well if possible,” he added.
Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson expressed his disappointment about India refraining from engaging in the customary handshake when his side made attempts towards it. Hesson didn’t directly pin captain Salman Agha’s absence due to the incident that took place after the match, but alluded to it obliquely.
“We were ready to shake hands. We are obviously disappointed that our opposition didn’t do that. We sort of went over there to shake hands, but they had already gone to the changing room. That was a disappointing way for the match to finish. We were willing to shake hands. We were keen to shake hands at the end of the match, but that didn’t happen, and that was pretty much the end of it,” Hesson told reporters during the post-match press conference. (Newswire)
