Pakistan Boycotts Asia Cup Match Against UAE Amid Escalating ‘Handshake Row’

The ongoing “handshake controversy” has reached a boiling point, with Pakistan reportedly deciding to boycott its final Asia Cup group-stage match against the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday . The dramatic move follows the fallout from their heated encounter with India and the subsequent refusal by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to replace match referee Andy Pycroft, whom the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has accused of bias .

According to reports from Geo News and other outlets, the PCB has instructed its national team to remain at their hotel and not travel to the stadium for the scheduled fixture . The players have been told to stay in their rooms, with their kits still packed on the team bus, signaling a last-minute withdrawal that could have severe financial and disciplinary repercussions for Pakistan . The match, scheduled for an 8:00 PM IST start, has reportedly been delayed by an hour as last-minute negotiations continue, though the UAE team has already arrived at the stadium .

The crisis stems from the India-Pakistan match on Sunday, where Indian players, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, declined to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts post-game . Yadav later stated the decision was in solidarity with victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack .

In protest, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha boycotted the post-match presentation . The PCB then lodged a formal complaint, alleging that Pycroft had advised Agha against shaking hands with Yadav at the toss and had acted against the spirit of the game .

After the ICC rejected two separate requests to remove Pycroft from officiating, the PCB has reportedly taken the extreme step of boycotting the UAE match . The board has also escalated its demands, calling for the immediate removal of Pycroft from all duties and urging the ICC to take disciplinary action against Suryakumar Yadav for his “politically charged” remarks .

The ICC has yet to issue an official response. The boycott puts Pakistan’s future in the tournament in jeopardy and raises serious questions about the leadership of PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the president of the Asian Cricket Council .