There was considerable drama surrounding the presence of match referee Andy Pycroft during the group stage clash between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates on September 17 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The game was delayed by an hour at the request of the PCB, as they had earlier threatened to pull out of the ongoing Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025.

All these started when India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, didn’t shake hands with his opposite number, Salman Ali Agha, and continued the trend even after the end of the encounter as the Blue Brigade went upstairs and locked themselves in the room. Due to the protest, PCB didn’t send their captain to the presentation ceremony and held the pre-match press conference in the UAE. Harif Rauf, the pacer of the side, reflected on the situation.

See Also: Saim Ayub registers unwanted record during PAK vs UAE Asia Cup 2025 clash

“I wasn’t feeling any pressure. This is not in my control. These are decisions for the board; it’s their headache. For me, I had to play the match; my focus was on that. The management has handled things pretty well.” Rauf expressed during the post-match presentation.

Haris Rauf reflects on question of Asia Cup 2025 boycott issue

Pakistan’s poor show with the bat continued as they ended with 146/9 in their 20 overs of the first innings. Fakhar Zaman smashed 50 runs in 36 balls at a strike rate of 138.89. However, the biggest punch came from Shaheen Afridi’s undefeated knock of 29 runs in 14 balls at a strike rate of over 200.

“It’s not my domain to speak on who plays and who doesn’t—that’s for the coaches and captain. As a player, if we get the opportunity, it’s on us to make the most of it. As for the batsmen, I’m sure they are discussing things among themselves. We have a few days before the next game, so hopefully we can prepare well.” Rauf addressed.

Rauf picked up two wickets in the bowling alongside Afridi and Abrar Ahmed. They bundled out the UAE side for 105 runs in 17.4 overs to earn a 41-run victory and will face India on September 21 in Dubai for the Super 4 stage.

Pakistan clinched a 41-run victory over United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Match 10 of the Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to keep their campaign alive and secured a Super Four spot from Group A, which was already secured by India. In a must-win match, Pakistan exhibited grit both with bat and ball to keep themselves alive in their quest for the title.

Early setbacks saw Junaid Siddique dismiss both openers, Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan, inside his first two overs. However, Fakhar Zaman’s composed 50 off 36 balls helped Pakistan recover before a middle-order collapse once again left them in trouble. In the end, it was Shaheen Shah Afridi who saved the innings and smashed a quick 29 off 14 balls to take Pakistan to a competitive score of 146 in 20 overs.

For UAE, Junaid Siddique was outstanding with figures of 4/18, while Simranjeet Singh supported well with 3/26. UAE began their chase positively but lost three wickets within the powerplay. Rahul Chopra and Dhruv Parashar looked to steady the innings, but the pressure kept mounting as Pakistan’s spin duo of Abrar Ahmed (2/13) and Ayub (1/18) tightened the screws. Eventually, UAE collapsed to 105 all out in 17.4 overs.

PAK vs UAE: Who Said What?

Shaheen Shah Afridi (Player of the Match): 

“Just practicing in the nets. Whatever I am practicing, trying to execute the same. Looking forward to the upcoming games. We lost early wickets and then in the middle overs too. My job is to go and hit the ball. The team needed an early breakthrough and I try to provide that.”

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Muhammad Waseem (UAE Captain):

“I would give credit to our bowlers. We restricted them to a low total. We lost the game due to our batting. We were going well despite losing 3 wickets in the powerplay. But then, lost wickets post the 15th over. Our middle-order had to take some responsibility. We had a good experience. We played against India and Pakistan. We learnt so many things and will hope to apply it in the upcoming tournaments.”

Salman Ali Agha (Winning Captain):

“We got the job done but we needed to bat better in the middle overs. The bowlers did well. We haven't batted to our best yet. If we batted well, we would have ended up with 170-180. Shaheen is a match-winner. His batting has improved. Abrar has been outstanding. He is someone who is bringing us back into games. We are ready for any challenge. If we play good cricket, we can be good against any side.”

Pakistan defeated United Arab Emirates in Match 10 of the Asia Cup 2025, sealing a 41-run victory to move into the Super Four. Batting first, Pakistan were reduced to 89/6 but Fakhar Zaman’s steady 50 provided stability before Shaheen Afridi’s blistering 29 off 14 balls* lifted them to a respectable 146/9. The United Arab Emirates’ bowlers, spearheaded by Junaid Siddique (4/27) and Simranjeet Singh (3/26), were able to restrict Pakistan to below 150 runs. UAE’s chase, however, got off to a rocky start as they quickly fell to 37/3 in powerplay overs, with their top order undone by firm Pakistani pace and spin. Although the middle order fought briefly, they fell to pressure and were bowled out for 105 runs in 17.3 overs. Below are the main reasons for the United Arab Emirates defeat:

1. Pakistan’s batting recovery backed by Fakhar Zaman and Shaheen Afridi

Despite early pressure, Fakhar Zaman’s 50 anchored Pakistan’s recovery, while Shaheen Afridi’s explosive 29 off 14* in the death overs lifted them to a defendable 146/9.

2. Early UAE top-order collapse under raw pace

Chasing 147, UAE lost 3 key wickets within the first six overs, including Sharafu and Waseem, to Pakistan’s bowling brilliance from Shaheen Afridi and Abrar Ahmed, restricting them to 37/3 and derailing the chase early.

See Also: WATCH: 6,6... Shaheen Afridi's last over assault during PAK vs UAE Asia Cup 2025 match

3. Pakistan’s disciplined bowling throughout the innings

The bowlers from Pakistan applied control in all phases of play, with Shaheen striking early and spinners like Abrar Ahmed being good in the middle. Their consistency and accuracy meant that the UAE was never able to find any sort of rhythm in the chase.

In an unfortunate event, Pakistan keeper Mohammad Haris hit on-field umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge's back of the head with the ball. For precautionary measures, he took off from the ground immediately. The fourth umpire of the Pakistan vs UAE (PAK vs UAE) Asia Cup 2025 match stepped onto the field to replace injured Ruchira.

Ruchira seems to have suffered a concussion; thus, the match officials did not want to take any risk, and they decided to take him off the field. Hitting behind the skull is always considered a dangerous scenario, and to prevent any kind of unwanted situation. After the incident, the medical staff immediately rushed into the field to attend to him. He walked off from the ground but was in visible pain. 

The home team, the United Arab Emirates, started off their run chase with extra confidence after a promising bowling performance. The target was chaseable for them, but Pakistan's bowling attack did not allow them to touch the target. 

Read More: WATCH: Pakistan opener Saim Ayub's dismissal during PAK vs UAE Asia Cup 2025 match

The umpire probably suffered a Concussion 

After sustaining multiple early blows, Pakistan was in serious trouble during the initial stage of the match. Fakhar Zaman tried to overshadow the failures of their openers as much as possible with his 50-run knock against 36 deliveries. Skipper Salman Ali Agha played a sloppy 20-run innings against 27 balls. But it was unexpectedly Shaheen Afridi who displayed some cracking shots from Pakistan's lower batting order. He remained unbeaten for 29 runs, facing 14 deliveries. His performance was more entertaining because of the 20th over of the match when he smashed 18 runs with a couple of 6s and a 4 to take Pakistan's total to 146 in 20 overs.

In 17.4 overs, UAE lost all four of their wickets for 105 runs, and Pakistan won the match by 41 runs. Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Abrar Ahmed claimed a brace each.

Watch the moment here

The umpire who had been giving wrong decisions since the India vs Pak match for Pakistan was hit by a Pakistani fielder and left the ground.
Warra Aatankvadi team😭😭 pic.twitter.com/qVXwHGabuQ

— paty (@_midwicket) September 17, 2025

Shaheen Afridi turned his big hitter mode on during the last over of the first innings during the Pakistan vs UAE (PAK vs UAE) Asia Cup 2025 match on Wednesday (September 17, 2025). With back-to-back sixes, he added extra energy in the gallery and some much-needed runs for his team as well.

Afridi scored an unbeaten 29 off 14 with three 4s and two 6s, and Pakistan registered 146 runs in 20 overs against 9 wickets. In the last over of the innings, 18 runs came from his blade. Former Pakistan international Wasim Akram, who was with the mic in the commentary box, said that Afridi has polished his batting skills a lot. The second six over the over he hit was using the wrists, which impressed Akram a lot.

Muhammad Rohid, the United Arab Emirates pacer, who bowled the 20th over of the first innings, started off the over with an outside off, full-length delivery. Afridi remained fixed in front of the leg stump and launched the ball over the long-off region for the first six of the over.

Read More: WATCH: Pakistan opener Saim Ayub's dismissal during PAK vs UAE Asia Cup 2025 match

Back to back 6s from Shaheen Afridi vs UAE

 In the following delivery, the pacer again went full, this time pointing towards the leg stump, but the result was the same—a six. Afridi, as before, looked solid on his toes, using his wrists beautifully to flick the ball over the square leg fence for the second consecutive six of the over.

In the next delivery, he southpaw clubbed the ball for a four. Afridi just guided the short-of-length, slower delivery short fine leg for a four. The star Pakistani cricketer, who is known for his fast bowling abilities, scored 16 runs in the first 3 balls and, in total, 18 runs from the over to conclude the innings. 

Watch the over here

In batting 🔥
In bowling 🔥
-Shaheen Shah Afridi#PAKvsUAE #PakistanCricket #AsiaCup2025pic.twitter.com/k5FfPUR80o

— CricketQuickBuzz (@CricketQuickBuz) September 17, 2025

Hat-trick of ducks for Pakistan opener Saim Ayub in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. After a couple of 0s against Oman and India, Ayub again had to return with another duck, this time against the home team, the United Arab Emirates.

It was a delivery from the UAE pacer Junaid Siddique off with the bounce; Ayub could hit the ball anywhere on the off side. He chose to play a cut shot, which glided on the hands of Zohaib Khan, who was waiting at fine leg. Siddique did not make any mistake in grabbing the ball. It was not the first time the Pakistan opener tried to be adventurous before settling down on the track. His intentions to go big from the beginning harmed him and his team as well. Pakistan lost his wicket against UAE in the very first over of the match, when they were only with 3 runs. 

Match number 10 of the Asia Cup 2025 is equally important for Pakistan and the UAE, as both of the teams got one win each, playing two matches. In a situation, Ayub needed to bring out his best, but now, his run drought remains.

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Saim Ayub's hat-trick of 0s put his name in a list of unfortunates

Over the years, Pakistan has produced multiple world-class batters, but they have some poor records as well. In an unfortunate event, Ayub added his name to the list of all-time Pakistan players who got back-to-back three or more ducks at the international level. 

After a series of dismissals, Pakistan was unable to register a handsome total on the scoreboard. Batting first, they scored 146 runs for 9 wickets in 20 overs. The last over assault from Shaheen Afridi helped the team to add 18 runs from the 20th over of the first innings. 

UAE strike early vs Pakistan 🤯

Watch #PAKvUAE LIVE NOW, on the Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony LIV.#SonySportsNetwork #DPWorldAsiaCup2025 pic.twitter.com/gVRGeSYoBv

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) September 17, 2025

Pakistan’s tough time in the opening partnership continues in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 as their left-handed aggressive opening batter, Saim Ayub, recorded his third successive duck of the shortest format in the competition. It was the fourth duck of the shortest format for the batter in the last six innings of the competition. 

Against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the tournament, Ayub got out on the second ball of the innings. On his opening ball of the inning, the southpaw, Saim Ayub, crouched low and looked to slog across the line, only for the ball to stick on his back pad and miss the line and trap him before the stumps.

See Also: Breaking News!! Major update from PAK vs UAE Asia Cup 2025 clash

Against India, Ayub, on the first legal delivery of the innings, the left-handed batter wasn’t sweet on his timing and hit the short ball of Hardik Pandya into the hands of Jasprit Bumrah at the point region. Coming into the event, the anticipation was huge from the youngsters to provide them with vital runs with the bat in the opening partnership, but he couldn’t stand on his feet.

Saim Ayub joins two Pakistan players in unwanted record of successive T20I ducks

Against the UAE side at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Saim Ayub threw his bat at the short and wide delivery, which he got a thick edge as the ball flew to the third man, who grabbed a fine catch. The left-handed batter couldn’t believe his luck and dragged himself off the field for a two-ball duck.

The left-handed batter joined the likes of Mohammed Hafeez and Abdullah Sharfique to score three or more successive ducks in the shortest format in the men’s games. He also joined India’s Sanju Samson and some Zimbabwe players to score five T20I ducks in a single year.

The effect of that was huge on the Pakistan side as they found themselves under incredible pressure in the batting department. Their innings didn’t fly at all. Now, it will be a concern for the management if they stay with the batter for the rest of the event if they qualify for the Super 4 stage.

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.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) threatened to boycott the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 if the ICC failed to meet their demand of removing Andy Pycroft from the remainder of the tournament. As of now, ICC has reportedly no intention to remove Pycroft from his duties.

As per recent reports, he is all set to continue as the match referee in the Asia Cup, which means Pakistan's high demand to remove him may not be fulfilled. In that case, will PCB be able to show enough courage to pull the team out of the tournament? The question remains. PCB spokesperson Amir Mir informed that a final decision regarding that was to be taken. In protest, on Tuesday, PCB cancelled their scheduled press conference for their match against the hosts, the United Arab Emirates. But they did a training session at the ICC Academy ground, which overlapped with India’s net session. 

"The Pakistan Cricket Board has not yet made any final decision regarding the Asia Cup. 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," Amir Mir said.

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Will Pakistan cricket team stay away from UAE match?

The no-handshake controversy initiated during the India vs. Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 match when the Men in Blue refused to shake hands with their arch rival. First, during the toss, and then after the game, India refused to shake hands. 

PCB alleged that the match referee took India's side in those actions. Hence, they demanded to remove Pycroft from the rest of the tournament. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also holds a ministerial position in the Pakistan government, flew to Islamabad to discuss the matter with other officials.

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.

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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.