The Pakistan cricket team’s journey in the ongoing Asia Cup has been thrown into fresh uncertainty. Less than 24 hours before their must-win clash against the UAE, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) finds itself caught in a standoff with the International Cricket Council (ICC) — and the future of their campaign could be decided in a late-night meeting in Lahore.
The controversy stems from the PCB’s demand for the removal of veteran match referee Andy Pycroft in the aftermath of the “handshake row” following the India–Pakistan game. On Tuesday morning, Cricbuzz revealed that the ICC had rejected Pakistan’s request, but for most of the day, the PCB remained tight-lipped, neither confirming nor denying the development. By evening, whispers began to circulate that officials had indeed received the ICC’s response — though their stance on continuing in the tournament remained ambiguous.
Signs of the tension were clear. Pakistan cancelled their scheduled pre-match press conference, only to later show up for a lengthy training session at the ICC Academy in Dubai. Coincidentally, their nets overlapped with India’s, though Rohit Sharma’s side wrapped up just before Pakistan arrived. Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, and Salman Ali Agha all spent considerable time in the nets, with head coach Mike Hesson keeping a close watch. Yet behind the cricketing drills, it was evident that the bigger battle was being fought off the field.
All eyes are now on PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who returned to Lahore on Tuesday night after consultations in Islamabad. His discussions with the government are believed to have centered on the ICC standoff and the political implications of Pakistan’s next move. A late-night huddle at the PCB headquarters is expected to decide whether the Men in Green will take the field against the UAE or stage an unprecedented withdrawal from the Asia Cup.
For now, Pakistan’s fate in the tournament hangs by a thread — balanced between cricketing ambition and administrative brinkmanship. Fans, players, and rivals alike wait anxiously for clarity, as the clock ticks down to Wednesday’s high-stakes fixture in Dubai.
