Pakistan vs UAE: Pak team yet to reach Dubai Stadium for must-win clash amid row over ICC match referee Andy Pycroft

With just over an hour left for the toss in their must-win Asia Cup group match against the UAE on Wednesday, Pakistan are yet to reach the Dubai International Stadium amid the PCB’s threat to boycott the tournament.

While the team cancelled Tuesday’s pre-match press conference, they did go ahead with a practice session. The move came in the backdrop of PCB’s discontent with ICC match referee Andy Pycroft, whose removal they had formally demanded.

What is the controversy?

The controversy erupted when India refused to shake hands with Pakistan players after securing a landslide 7-wicket win in the rivalry clash in Dubai on Sunday. Pakistan expressed its disappointment by pulling out of the post-match presentation.


The handshake row escalated after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged a complaint against Pycroft, accusing him of violating the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC laws relating to the spirit of cricket. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) will not entertain Pakistan's request.

Why did India refuse to shake hands?

India's stance on refraining from engaging in shaking hands with their counterparts was linked to the strained relations between the two nations in the wake of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, during which Pakistan-sponsored terrorists killed 26 tourists.

After the conclusion of the contest, the Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav explained the team's stance to refuse a handshake with Pakistan and said, while speaking to reporters, "I feel a few things in life are ahead of sportsman spirit. I have told it at the presentation as well. We stand with all the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack."

"We stand with their families also and express our solidarity. As I said, we dedicate this win to our brave armed forces who took part in Operation Sindoor. As they continue to inspire us all, we will try our best to, whenever given the opportunity, inspire them as well if possible," he added.