Pakistan team have received approval to leave for the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to take on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the Asia Cup 2025 Group A's match. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has given a nod to his team to play their final game of the group round. PCB had filed a complaint against match referee Andy Pycroft, accusing him for acting at the behest of Team India. PCB asserted that Pycroft discouraged handshakes and did not allow the traditional exchange of team sheets between the two captains Surykumar Yadav and Salman Ali Agha.
PCB requested ICC to remove Pycroft from officiating their matches. They also threatened cricket’ apex body to pull out of the tournament if the former’s demands weren’t met. However, PCB has now relented as they have allowed their team’s bus to leave for the stadium. The game is a do-or-die for the Men in Green and it will now start with an hour of delay. On Sunday, the Green Army faced a seven-wicket defeat against their arch-rivals Team India. Earlier, Pakistan didn’t attend the pre-match conference but conducted the practice session.
India players denying handshake irked Pakistan team and PCB
Following the Sunday game between the arch-rivals, Team India players refused to shake hands with their counterparts. The reason for desisting from the handshake tradition was the Pahalgam Attack, which took place in April 2025. In the dastardly attack, 26 men lost their lives in front of their family members and India accused Pakistan of supporting the terrorists involved in the incident. After the horrendous event, India also launched Operation Sindoor against the terror outfits based in Pakistan.
Following the match on September 14, India skipper Suryakumar dedicated the triumph to the Pahalgam Terror Attack victims and the Indian Armed Forces. "We stand with their families also and express our solidarity. As I said, we dedicate this win to our brave armed forces who took part in Operation Sindoor. As they continue to inspire us all, we will try our best to, whenever given the opportunity, inspire them as well if possible," remarked Yadav.
