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The Pakistan cricket team will not pull out of the T20 Asia Cup 2025 as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) threatened in its letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) demanding match referee Andy Pycroft’s removal. After skipping the pre-match press conference on September 16, Pakistan have decided to go ahead with their match against UAE. A win against UAE will guarantee them a spot in the Super Four stage of the tournament.
While the ICC rejected PCB’s demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft for the rest of the tournament, he will not be the match referee for the UAE clash. In Pycroft’s absence, former West Indies cricketer Richie Richardson will be the match referee.
PCB’s drama over handshake snub
PCB had complained about Pycroft, alleging that he told Pakistan captain Salman Agha to not shake Indian skipper’s hand at the coin toss. Later, PCB were unhappy with Pycroft not taking an action when Suryakumar walked off the ground after finishing the run chase without customary handshake.
However, the sources told Sports Tak, that several Asian Cricket Council (ACC) officials, including Pakistan director of International Cricket were aware of the handshake snub beforehand.
"The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup," PCB wrote in its letter to the ICC.
Pakistan yet to lose a T20I against UAE
If Pakistan beat UAE on September 17, they will face India in Super Four game on September 21. Pakistan and UAE have played three T20Is against each other so far. Their first clash was in the T20 Asia Cup 2016. Pakistan beat UAE by seven wickets. In the recent tri-series, Pakistan beat UAE by 31 runs in both the games.
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