When just two hours before the start of the Asia Cup 2025 contest between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the Pakistan players didn’t turn up, assumptions started to grow that they had pulled out of the tournament as they had threatened if the ICC didn’t remove the match referee, Andy Pycroft, from their encounters. 

And, it has actually turned out to be true. The Pakistan players were asked to stay back in the hotel with an emergency press conference expected to come from the board. The Geo News reported that the players’ kits and luggage reportedly remain on the team bus, with the UAE already arriving at the ground.

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The encounter is scheduled to begin at 8 in the evening at the Dubai International Stadium, which hangs in uncertainty. The entire issue started after the Indian captain, Suryakumar Yadav, refused to shake hands with Salman Ali Agha and continued the trend even after the end of the encounter. In protest, the PCB didn’t send their captain to the presentation ceremony.

Pakistan pull out of Asia Cup 2025 as UAE qualify for Super 4 stage

Many reports claimed that the decision of not sending Salman came due to the presence of the Indian broadcaster, Sanjay Manjrekar, who went through the interviews of Sky and the man of the match award winner, Kuldeep Yadav. The PCB has not been happy with the unsporting behavior of the BCCI and its players. The reports revealed that it was Pycroft who contributed to the diplomatic tension of not shaking hands.

On the other hand, the ICC has refused to replace Pycroft from the Pak vs UAE clash, given that the individual was not in breach of any regulation during the game against India. In the case of Pakistan’s decision to pull out, the UAE will qualify for the Super 4 stage of the tournament.

The Muhammed Waseem-led side won their second game of the event against Oman at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The decision of pulling out of the tournament will also be a huge financial loss for the runners-up of the 2022 edition.