Asia Cup 2025: Match Referee Replaced Ahead of Pakistan-UAE Clash

In a major development ahead of the crucial Asia Cup 2025 fixture between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, match referee Andy Pycroft of Zimbabwe has been removed from his duties. Former West Indies cricketer Richie Richardson will now supervise the game, which carries decisive importance for both sides in their bid to qualify for the Super Four stage.

The decision comes in the aftermath of the high-voltage Pakistan-India match played on September 14 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, where India chased down Pakistan’s 128-run target in just 16 overs thanks to a stellar knock from Suryakumar Yadav.

Controversy erupted after the match when unbeaten batters Yadav and Shivam Dube skipped the traditional handshake, opting only for a brief fist bump before leaving the field, while Pakistani players remained waiting.

Following the incident, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). The PCB claimed that on the referee’s instructions, players avoided the customary handshake before and after the match, which violated the spirit of cricket and the MCC Code of Conduct.

The PCB further emphasised that breaking the longstanding tradition of handshakes undermines the game’s values and held the match referee accountable for failing to uphold the spirit of the sport.