The Asia Cup match between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is in jeopardy. The Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC) recent actions have caused significant controversy. The ACC deleted a Twitter post related to the match, leading to questions about whether the game will proceed as scheduled. This follows a threat from the Pakistan cricket team to boycott the match. The PCB had previously lodged a complaint against match referee Andy Pycroft, alleging he prevented Indian and Pakistani players from shaking hands.
The ACC’s removal of the match announcement post has heightened the uncertainty around Pakistan’s participation. The team’s hotel departure is drawing near, but the match’s confirmation is still not secured. Pakistan also canceled its Wednesday press conference, adding to the suspense. However, the Pakistani team practiced extensively at the ICC Cricket Academy on Tuesday.
The PCB has sent a second letter to the ICC. The PCB is seeking the removal of Pycroft from the match. This comes after Pakistan’s defeat against India. The Indian team’s post-match actions further fueled the controversy. ACC and PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi directly criticized the referee on social media and suspended the Pakistani team’s director.