Our Bureau
Dubai
The whole drama that has happened before the Asia Cup match between Pakistan and the hosts UAE has taken everyone by surprise. With everything happening in the space of somewhere around 2 hours from Pakistan team rejecting to leave the hotel to reports of them pulling out of the tournament to the team finally reaching the stadium and playing the match.
Earlier, reports came out stating that the International Cricket Council (ICC) had agreed to remove the match referee Andy Pycroft however it later was reported that the ICC had rejected PCB’s request. It was noted that the board had made a similar request following the ‘no-handshake controversy’ vs India but it had been rejected as well.
It was then reported on the Pakistani news channel Samaa TV, that their players were asked to stay in their hotel rooms until further orders. They stated that it looked like Pakistan had decided to pull out of the event but there was no confirmation on the matter.
It was later reported that the match referee Andy Pycroft, around whom the whole matter was revolving, was still there in the hotel and had not left for the Dubai International Cricket Stadium where the match between Pakistan and UAE was set to take place.
The UAE side had already reached the stadium and were getting ready for the match but there was no sign of the Pakistani team and many had believed that the reports of them pulling out were true. However, the Chairman of PCB, Mohsin Naqvi asked the players of the side to head to the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. He wrote on his X account, “We have asked the Pakistan team to depart for the Dubai Cricket Stadium. Further details to follow.”
It was reported by PCB’s spokesperson that the match would be delayed by one hour and would start by 9 PM IST. The report came out true as the first ball of the match was bowled an hour later from the originally decided time with Pakistan opting to bat. Andy Pycroft was still officiating the match despite the whole controversy around his appointment.
