The Pakistan Cricket team has arrived at the Dubai Cricket Stadium for their must-win game against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday. The order came from Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who was chairing a high-level meeting to decide the team’s future in the tournament.
Former chairmen Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi, alongside Aaqib Javed, were present at the high-level hurdle in Lahore. In a post on X, Naqvi said: “We have asked the Pakistan team to depart for the Dubai Cricket Stadium. Further details to follow.”
The development was also confirmed by the Asian Cricket Council confirmed in a statement that the match would go ahead at 8:30 pm PST. According to ESPNcricinfo, Andy Pycroft remains the match referee for the game.
PCB spokesperson Amir Mir earlier confirmed that the match was delayed by one hour amid uncertainty over whether the Men in Green would play or not.
“The consultation process is ongoing and PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi is discussing with former chairmen Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi and on the other hand, online negotiations are also going on with Dubai. Immediately, the match between UAE and Pakistan has been delayed by one hour,” he said.
Media reports had said the Pakistan cricket team would not play their men’s Asia Cup 2025 match against the UAE. Things heated up after the International Cricket Council (ICC) refused to replace match referee Andy Pycroft, despite multiple requests from the PCB.
The controversy started after India refused to shake hands with Pakistani players after their clash in Dubai. The incident triggered outrage across Pakistan, with captain Salman Ali Agha boycotting his post-match media duties and the PCB filing a formal protest with the ICC.
PCB chairman also suspended their Director International Usman Wahla, citing his failure to manage the situation during the game. The PCB had demanded the removal of Pycroft as match referee for the Asia Cup, but the ICC turned down the request, insisting he would continue in his role.
This led to a delay in today’s game, when Pakistan players were asked to stay in the hotel just an hour before the game. The team had earlier cancelled their pre-match press conference, citing the heavy presence of Indian media and fears of escalating the issue.