In anticipation of Pakistan’s important Group A contest PAK vs UAE at the Asia Cup 2025 on Wednesday, there was no shortage of drama, controversy and uncertainty, or politics surrounding the match.
To understand the full extent of the chaos, one had to follow what was happening in at least three different sites Pakistan’s team hotel, the Dubai stadium, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in Lahore. The action was heightened by the presence of Andy Pycroft, the Zimbabwean match referee, whose activities were important to the chaos.
The Uncertainty Before PAK vs UAE
As the appointed hour for the game approached, there was uncertainty about whether the Pakistan team would even leave the hotel in Dubai. The hour felt like it was passing minute to minute and doubts were present about the start of the match. At Marina, the team’s hotel, players were instructed not to step out of the hotel as negotiations continued in Lahore and Dubai.
The UAE players were already present and prepared at the Dubai International Stadium, but they had no idea if the match would be held or not because the news was spreading like wildfire that Pakistan would boycott the game.
At PCB headquarters in Lahore, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and the previous masters of the board, Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi, were embroiled in a significant meeting with tensions high as they investigated the situation and decided a course of action.
Read More
It was uncertainty all the way, as the PCB had initially announced a one-hour delay to the start of the match at 7:30 pm local time, but that was far from being the resolution to the challenge at hand.
The Andy Pycroft Controversy
The source of the problem was Andy Pycroft, the Zimbabwean match referee, who had turned into a point of contention. Around 5 pm, Pycroft visited the stadium but in a momentary confusion turned back, supposedly heading towards ICC headquarters.
The PCB had complained against Pycroft’s behavior after an incident during Pakistan’s previous game against India, now popularly referred to as the “handshake-gate” controversy.
The PCB had firmly informed that they did not want Pycroft to be a part of refereeing the PAK vs UAE game, but the ICC would not change him. The saga further escalated, and tensions arose over whether or not Pycroft would officiate the match.
The Delay and Drama Continues
Finally, at around 5:45 pm, Naqvi went on social media and confirmed that the Pakistan team would be leaving the hotel and proceeding to the stadium. But uncertainty still existed regarding the start time of the match. The organizational task of getting rid of Dubai’s weekday traffic in such short notice was considered almost impossible, and the start time for the match remained questionable till the last minute.
As PAK vs UAE progressed, TV news teams escorted the Pakistan team on their 40-minute bus trip to the stadium and aired the entire ride live. By the time Pakistan players reached the stadium at 6:25 pm, UAE had already finished their warm-up and team huddle.
A Brief Meeting with Andy Pycroft
When they arrived at the ground, the Pakistani team proceeded to their warm-up, while team manager Naved Akram Cheema, captain Salman Agha, and coach Mike Hesson entered a behind-closed-doors meeting with Pycroft.
The PCB then issued a subdued video of the team administration talking to Pycroft, accompanied by a statement asserting that Pycroft had apologized for the misunderstanding that resulted in the handshake-gate controversy in Pakistan’s previous game against India. The statement succeeded in de-escalating the fury that had simmered in the past 24 hours.
PAK vs UAE: The Match and Its Bigger Picture
Despite all the behind-the-scenes acrimony, the match eventually went ahead. By the time the players emerged onto the pitch for the national anthems, the actual meaning of the match also appeared to recede into the distance. The PAK vs UAE confrontation had been relegated to secondary to the shenanigans that preceded it.
Read More
The Pakistan Cricket Board expressed concerns over Pakistan’s playing in Asia Cup just 24 hours before the match and cancelled their pre-match press conference. The uncertainty around their squad has reduced the stakes of what was, in fact, a must-win match for Pakistan to progress to the Super Four.
A Must-Win Match Amid Chaos
The PAK vs UAE match on Wednesday was marred by off-field controversy, with the PCB’s problems with Andy Pycroft and uncertainty regarding the start of the match dominating headlines. Yet, in spite of all the controversy, the match proceeded, and Pakistan ensured Asia Cup 2025 qualification through a much-needed victory.
For Pakistan, the true test is how they navigate internal politics and international pressure in the future, with an eye on their coming meetings in the tournament. Having dealt with the controversy of handshake-gate behind them, attention turns to performance on the ground and the quest for Asia Cup glory.
ALSO READ: Asia Cup 2025: All Super Four Qualification Scenarios
