In a dramatic twist to the already volatile Asia Cup 2025, the high-stakes fixture between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates has been officially postponed by an hour.
The delay, confirmed by PCB spokesperson Amir Mir, comes amid ongoing internal consultations and unresolved tensions with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over match referee Andy Pycroft.
“Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chair, is meeting and discussing with former chairs Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi. They are discussing the issue and are in touch with Dubai over the matter. The match has been delayed by an hour for now,” Mir stated, adding fuel to speculation about Pakistan’s continued participation in the tournament.
The UAE team had already arrived at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and begun their pre-match routines before news of the delay emerged. According to travel schedules, the Pakistan team was expected to leave their hotel at 4:30pm local time, but ESPNcricinfo reports that the PCB instructed players to stay put while officials continued discussions with the ICC.
According to local media, the situation has now been resolved, and the Pakistan cricket team has been cleared to travel to the stadium and take part in the contest as Andy Pycroft has left the Dubai stadium.
The PCB had previously cancelled its scheduled press conference on Tuesday evening, citing unresolved grievances stemming from the controversial “Handshake-Gate” incident during their loss to India. The board has accused match referee Andy Pycroft of partiality and demanded his removal from the tournament, a request the ICC declined, which became a sticking point in the discussions.
A public announcement from the PCB is expected soon.
The Pakistan-UAE match is a virtual knockout for a place in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup. With the matter reportedly resolved, all eyes now turn to the action.