Pakistan train in Dubai despite boycott calls, still unsure about Asia Cup future after ICC reject their plea

The Pakistan cricket team tried to project calm and composure on the eve of their Asia Cup fixture against the UAE, but behind the scenes, unease and uncertainty continue to cloud their campaign. The fallout from Sunday’s controversial handshake episode, where Indian players refrained from shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts following the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, has left the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) scrambling.

In response to what they viewed as a breach of ICC protocol, the PCB demanded the removal of match



referee Andy Pycroft. However, their appeal was swiftly turned down by the International Cricket Council (ICC), with the rejection letter ironically signed by ICC General Manager Waseem Khan, a former PCB CEO. The optics of that didn’t go unnoticed either.

While PCB officials awaited clearance from Islamabad regarding their next steps, they continued efforts to have Richie Richardson appointed as match referee for the upcoming game, which is a move seen as a symbolic face-saver for PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister.