Pakistan leaves hotel room late for toss, UAE Asia Cup 2025 match expected to be delayed by at least one hour
The 2025 Asia Cup match between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is expected to be delayed by at least an hour after Salman Ali Agha and Co. left their hotel room with only 30 minutes to go for the toss.
UAE, by then, had already arrived at the Dubai International Stadium, the venue for the game.
According to ESPN Cricinfo, Amir Mir, the PCB spokesperson, told reporters at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore that Mohsin Naqvi, the Board’s chair, met and discussed the matter with previous chairs Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi. The match has been delayed by an hour for now.
The uncertainty comes in the wake of the controversy surrounding match referee Andy Pycroft, whom the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wanted removed for the UAE game — a request the International Cricket Council (ICC) subsequently rejected.
Pycroft was the referee in the match between India and Pakistan, where the two teams played without shaking hands.
The PCB blamed Pycroft for the fiasco, saying that he asked Salman Ali Agha — the Pakistan skipper — not to shake hands with Suryakumar Yadav — the Indian counterpart — and also did not allow the exchange of team-sheets between the two captains, as has been the norm.
“This misconduct violates Article 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Match Officials, which specifically makes it an offence for the Match Referee to conduct himself in a manner, which is contrary to the spirit of game and violates the MCC Laws,” the PCB alleged in its first letter of complaint to the ICC.
“Given the gravity, political nature/background, and far-reaching consequences and repercussions, the misconduct has also caused disrepute to the game,” it had stated.
More to follow.
Published on Sep 17, 2025
