Asia Cup 2025: Pakistan skip pre-match press conference ahead of UAE game amid handshake row

PCB’s demand to suspend match referee Andy Pycroft from Asia Cup 2025 duties was rejected by the ICC.

The Pakistan Cricket Team has boycotted the pre-match press conference ahead of their Asia Cup 2025 encounter against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This match is to be played in Dubai on September 17, 2025. It is a must-win game for both Pakistan and the UAE with Super 4s qualification on the line as India have already qualified for the second round after winning their first two matches.

Pakistan’s action of not holding the pre-match press conference comes after they threatened to pull out of the ongoing Asia Cup if match referee Andy Pycroft was not removed from his duties in the ongoing tournament.

On Tuesday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) demand that Andy Pycroft be removed from the panel of match officials. The issue arose from the “no handshake” incident during Pakistan’s match versus India, which the PCB blamed on Pycroft.

The PCB filed a protest, stating that Pycroft told Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands with India’s Suryakumar Yadav during the toss. The 69-year-old Zimbabwean is set to officiate Pakistan’s final group stage match against the UAE on Wednesday.

Pakistan to pull out of the Asia Cup 2025 tournament?

Pakistan’s cancellation of their pre-match press conference ahead of their vital group A encounter against the UAE has fueled talk of a possible protest or departure from the competition.

The players were due to talk to the media tonight, but the conference was abruptly cancelled without explanation. In addition to reports of the Pakistan squad cancelling their press conference, the players were spotted training ahead of their must-win encounter against the UAE on Wednesday (September 17).

It’s a virtual knockout between the two teams, and the winner will advance to the Super Four round. According to earlier reports, if Pakistan withdraws from the match against the UAE, they will also be eliminated from the Asia Cup. In this situation, the UAE will make history by qualifying for the next round of the continental event for the first time ever.

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