Some intriguing developments surfaced regarding the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on September 17, just before Pakistan’s Asia Cup clash against the UAE. Tensions arose following the September 14 match against India, when several Indian players reportedly avoided post-match handshakes with the Pakistani team. This gesture sparked outrage within the PCB, which even threatened to remove match referee Andy Pycroft and discussed the possibility of a team boycott.

The situation escalated ahead of the Pakistan vs UAE game, as PCB officials instructed their players not to leave the stadium because Pycroft was officiating. There were genuine fears of Pakistan pulling out of the tournament due to the incident. The board’s initial hardline stance created uncertainty and tension among players and officials alike.

Eventually, the PCB decided to step back from the brink, allowing the match to proceed, albeit with a delayed start. While the drama stirred controversy, the game went ahead, highlighting the intense emotions and politics sometimes involved in high-profile cricket tournaments.

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Former PCB Chief’s Remark on the Ongoing Controversy:

Former PCB chairman Najam Sethi, involved in the key decisions at the time, has now shared some revealing insights about the events. His statements shed light on the discussions and deliberations that took place behind the scenes during the tense period leading up to the matches.

He said, “ The decision was already taken. The mood was such that, 'under public pressure, let's boycott. Let the Asia Cup go to hell, let the ICC go to hell.' My attitude has always been that you should stay within legal boundaries and not leave the international arena. When I was called, my friends told me, ‘Don't go, don't support him.' I hadn't gone to support Mr. Mohsin Naqvi. I went to help the Pakistan Cricket Board.”

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Najam Sethi said: Mahsin Naqvi had decided to withdraw from the Asia Cup. My friends told me, 'Don't go, don't help them.' I didn't even go to help Mahsin Naqvi. If what Mahsin Naqvi was doing had happened, Pakistan would have suffered irreparable damage,…

— Kashif (@KashifNdmCric) September 19, 2025

He further said, “ If what he was attempting had succeeded, Pakistan would have suffered irreparable damage. We could have been sanctioned by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), penalized by the International Cricket Council (ICC), foreign players might have refused to play in the PSL, and we stood to lose $15 million in ACC broadcasting rights. It would have been an existential crisis for PCB.”

After a tense standoff, Pakistan dropped its threat to pull out and took the field for a key Asia Cup clash against the UAE, though the match was delayed. PCB claimed it had received an "apology" from match referee Andy Pycroft, even as the ICC refused to remove him, despite Pakistan’s repeated demands.

The ICC informed PCB chairman and ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi, via CEO Sanjog Gupta, that Pycroft would continue as match referee. The board justified his retention, stating he had adhered to all rules and regulations. The incident highlighted the clash between Pakistan’s stance and ICC protocols during the tournament.

Pakistan blamed match referee Andy Pycroft for the controversy after Salman and Suryakumar neither shook hands nor exchanged team sheets during the toss. The PCB claimed Pycroft had instructed Salman against shaking hands and directed both captains not to swap their team sheets, sparking tensions before the match.