Pakistan Cancel Pre-Match Presser Ahead Of UAE Clash

Pakistan are in a serious tussle with the ICC over the handshake controversy that occurred in the India-Pakistan game in Dubai on September 14. After their appeal to dismiss that game's match referee, Andy Pycroft, was turned down, Pakistan cancelled their pre-match press conference ahead of their must-win clash against the UAE on September 16. 

While the team has continued their training ahead of the must-win encounter scheduled for tomorrow, September 17, it’s still unclear if Pakistan will continue in the tournament after ICC formally rejected Pakistan’s demand to remove Pycroft. 

Earlier, Mohsin Naqvi, the Pakistan Cricket Board and Asian Cricket Council chairman, expressed disapproval with Pycroft’s conduct and posted on ‘X’ about it as well. 

“The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has demanded the immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup,” Naqvi said in his post. 

All the kerfuffle began after the Indian team refused to shake hands with the Pakistani team due to the off-field tensions post Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor.