Andy Pycroft Remains Match Referee as Asia Cup UAE-Pakistan Game Faces Delay Amid Controversy Or Asia Cup 2025: Pycroft to Officiate Delayed UAE-Pakistan Match Despite PCB Objections

*This is a developing story*

Pakistan's final group game in the 2025 Asia Cup, against UAE, will go ahead with an hour's delay. Match referee Andy Pycroft will officiate in the game as per the original roster.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) had rejected the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) demand to expel match referee Andy Pycroft even after the board wrote a second letter to the governing body reiterating its demand. But the ICC is believed to struck it down for not wanting to set a precedent by changing a match official under pressure.

At the time of writing, a meeting was underway in Dubai, even as information emerged that the Pakistan team has been asked to leave for the Dubai International Stadium, pending a final decision on their participation in the match.

It was earlier believed that a middle ground had been worked out, with a significant role played by officials of the Emirates board, the de facto hosts of the tournament. Under the discussed arrangement, Pycroft would have continued in the tournament, but he would have been taken off the roster for Wednesday's game between Pakistan and the UAE. Richie Richardson, the other ICC referee on the panel, was suggested as a replacement for that match. It is not yet known whether this arrangement has been accepted.

Some face-saving measures became necessary after the PCB took the extreme position of threatening to pull out over the issue of Pycroft, whom it accused of siding with India during the September 14 clash between the arch-rivals, which also involved the handshake controversy.

The situation escalated after the ICC rejected the PCB's demand. With the prospect of Pakistan pulling out of the tournament looming, top UAE board officials are believed to have stepped in to mediate between the ICC and the PCB.

They reportedly argued that, with tickets already sold and sponsors and broadcasters committed, the situation could become problematic for all stakeholders. Cricbuzz has reached out to all parties - the ICC, the PCB, and the Emirates board for comment.