Will Pakistan play must-win Asia Cup 2025 contest vs UAE? Report drops massive update
The recent reports have dropped a massive update on whether Pakistan, despite their filed complaint against the ICC match referee and the Indian side on the handshake controversy, would feature in the Asia Cup 2025 contest against the UAE.
There is uncertainty over Pakistan’s participation in the do-or-die Asia Cup 2025 fixture against the United Arab Emirates at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, especially after the Andy Pycroft issue. After the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected PCB’s request to replace the match referee, the middle ground appears to have been reached with a significant role.
With the ICC’s refusal, the ACC authorities are expected to take the former Zimbabwe player off the schedule for the game on September 17. The reports claimed that Richie Richardshon, the other ICC referee of the panel, is believed to have been brought in for the knockout clash, with Pycroft continuing as the match official of the competition. The arrangement isn’t confirmed yet.
The Pakistan Cricket Board didn’t hold the pre-match press conference on the eve of the game, while they turned up in the practice session at the ICC Academy. Their anger rose after the Indian team, under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership, refused to shake hands with the Pakistan players at the toss and after the end of the game due to the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year.
Pakistan likely to feature in Asia Cup 2025 game vs UAE in Andy Pycroft’s absence
The PCB held a meeting late on September 16, and once it ended, the interior minister of the country, Mohsin Naqvi, returned to Lahore from Islamabad, where he had gone to consult with the government about the team’s further participation in the competition. Naqvi’s visit to Islamabad should have been a routine one, but it was expected to be around the handshake controversy.
“Consultations are underway in this regard, and a final decision will be made by tomorrow. The decision will be taken keeping Pakistan's interest in mind.” The spokesperson of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Amir Mir, expressed on September 16.
If the Pakistan side doesn’t feature in the Asia Cup 2025 encounter, the UAE will qualify for the Super 4 stage of the competition. India has already earned the tickets for the second stage of the event and will lock horns with Oman on September 19 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
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