Will Pakistan play in the Asia Cup today or withdraw? PCB make position clear

The Pakistan Cricket Board is contemplating withdrawing from the Asia Cup due to a dispute over match referee Andy Pycroft following the India-Pakistan match. Pakistan demands Pycroft's removal, accusing him of mishandling the no-handshake incident and Suryakumar Yadav's dedication of the win to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Pakistan have played one and lost one so far in the Asia Cup. Their fate in tournament, however, remains unclear. (AFP)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is facing a critical decision regarding their continued participation in the Asia Cup, with tensions escalating over the match referee controversy following the India-Pakistan match. The board is set to announce their final stance today (Wednesday, September 17), ahead of Pakistan's scheduled match against the United Arab Emirates at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. PCB spokesperson Aamir Mir addressed the situation on Tuesday, stating: "Consultations are ongoing, and a final decision will be announced tomorrow. The decision will be taken keeping Pakistan's interests in mind."

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As per local reports in Pakistan, PCB Chairman and ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi is reportedly planning to consult with senior government officials before making the final decision about Pakistan's continued participation in the tournament. As TimesofIndia.com reported, Pycroft will be "rested" for the encounter between Pakistan and UAE but his overall absence from the tournament remains unlikely. Pakistan had earlier threatened to withdraw from the continental tournament for Pycroft's role in the controversy that erupted on Sunday. However, ICC had rejected Pakistan's formal request to remove Pycroft from his position for the Asia Cup.The row stems from the recent high-profile match between India and Pakistan, where traditional pre- and post-match handshakes were not exchanged between the teams. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and teammate Shivam Dube celebrated with their dugout but did not greet the Pakistani players after the match concluded. The situation further intensified when India captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the win to the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and the Indian army. In response, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha chose not to attend the post-match presentation ceremony. The PCB has specifically tied Pakistan's participation in the upcoming UAE match to the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft, whom they hold responsible for mishandling the no-handshake incident. Despite the controversy and their fate officially unclear, Pakistan continued their preparations at the ICC Academy for their crucial match against UAE. However, the team's scheduled pre-match press conference was cancelled. If the match does go ahead, the stakes are high for both teams. The winner will join India from Group A into the Super 4s.

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