LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has instructed the Pakistan team to make their way to the Dubai International Cricket Stadium for their Asia Cup 2025 match against the United Arab Emirates, following a controversy with match referee Andy Pycroft after their game against India.
“We have asked the Pakistan team to depart for the Dubai Cricket Stadium. Further details will follow,” the PCB chairman posted on X.
Once cleared by the board, the players were seen boarding the team bus in high spirits, and they are expected to arrive at the venue in approximately 40 minutes.
Amir Mir, the advisor to the PCB chairman, earlier revealed that the match had been delayed by one hour due to ongoing discussions over the referee dispute.
“The consultation process is ongoing. The PCB chairman is in talks with former PCB chairs Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi,” he said during a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium.
The match will now begin at 8:30 PM Pakistan Standard Time (PST), with the toss scheduled for 8:00 PM, following the one-hour delay, as confirmed by the PCB.
Previously, the national team had been instructed to remain at the hotel with less than two hours remaining before their scheduled group-stage match against the UAE.
The situation developed after the Pakistan team failed to travel to the Dubai International Cricket Stadium for their upcoming fixture against the UAE. The team was supposed to leave the hotel at 5 PM, but the players did not board the bus. The bus remained parked for half an hour without the players getting on.
This issue emerged after a handshake was skipped between the captains of Pakistan and India during the toss of their Asia Cup 2025 match on September 14. The omission, allegedly directed by Pycroft, sparked the controversy.
This story is still developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.
