Pakistan withdrew its decision to pull out from the Asia Cup 2025match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Dubai. The Men in Green are currently locking horns against Emirates in the do-or-die match after losing their second game of the tournament against the arch-rivals Team India. Before the start of the match on Sunday, match referee Andy Pycroft stopped the captains of India and Pakistan from shaking hands and this incident irked Pakistan and their cricket board. PCB alleged that Pycroft did this at the behest of BCCI and Team India. PCB also filed a complaint against Pycroft and asked for his removal as referee from the Asia Cup 2025.
In the latest development, PCB has asserted that Pycroft apologised to Pakistancaptain Salman Ali
Agha and their team manager. The statement issued by PCB on Pycroft read, "The ICC's match referee, Andy Pycroft, has apologised to the manager and captain of the Pakistan cricket team."
Apology from Andy Pycroft to PCB is for miscommunication: Reports
Amidst the Pycroft apology claim by the PCB, India’s newswire PTI has claimed that the Zimbabwean match referee went through with it due to miscommunication around the handshake controversy invovling the Indian cricket team. "The apology has only been tendered for the miscommunication and ICC will only conduct its investigation only when PCB furnish further evidence as to what was Pycroft's fault," they wrote in their report.
Pakistan are currently playing against the UAE, and a win will help them qualify for the Super 4 round. In the continental tournament, India have reached the next round round. Afghanistan lost to Bangladesh by eight runs in the Group B match on September 16, and they find themselves in a tough spot in the competition. If Pakistan win against the UAE in Dubai, the Men in Green will battle against their arch-rivals India against on Sunday, September 21.
