The Asia Cup 2025 witnessed a dramatic twist on Tuesday when Pakistan refused to play their crucial group-stage match against the host team United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Dubai. The 10th match of the tournament was scheduled to take place today, but just an hour before the toss, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) informed officials that their team would not participate.

According to reports in the Pakistani media, this decision effectively knocks Pakistan out of the tournament, as UAE will now receive a walkover and earn two crucial points. With this, UAE becomes the second team from Group B to qualify for the Super-4 stage, joining India.

Controversy Behind Pakistan’s Boycott

The dispute traces back to the high-voltage India vs Pakistan clash held on Sunday. After that game, Indian players reportedly refused to shake hands with the Pakistani players, which sparked outrage in the PCB camp. Pakistan held match referee Andy Pycroft responsible for the incident, claiming he violated cricket protocol by instructing the captains not to shake hands at the toss—a move that PCB argued was against MCC rules and the spirit of cricket.

The PCB lodged an official complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) demanding that referee Andy Pycroft be removed from the tournament. However, ICC rejected the request, leading to speculation that Pakistan might boycott their final group match against UAE.

Initially, it appeared that Pakistan would still play the match. Players even attended practice sessions, though the team had canceled their pre-match press conference. A team bus was reportedly waiting outside the hotel to take the players to the stadium. Meanwhile, UAE’s squad had already reached the venue and was ready to take the field. But just an hour before the scheduled start, Pakistan announced they would not participate.

Group B Standings After the Forfeit

Pakistan’s decision has dramatically reshaped the Asia Cup 2025 points table in Group B.

• India: Already qualified for the Super-4 after winning both their group matches.

• UAE: Gains two points from the walkover and advances to the Super-4 alongside India.

• Oman: Eliminated after losing both their games.

• Pakistan: Knocked out due to the forfeit.

This forfeiture means the much-anticipated India-Pakistan showdown in the Super-4 will not happen unless both teams meet later in the knockout stage of the tournament.

Reactions and Next Steps

The PCB has faced criticism for what many see as a politically motivated or impulsive decision that sacrifices the team’s competitive chances. Cricket analysts argue that walking out of a major tournament over an officiating dispute sets a dangerous precedent. Fans, too, have expressed disappointment, as the Pakistan-UAE clash was expected to be a thrilling decider for the second Super-4 spot.

With UAE advancing, all eyes now turn to the Super-4 stage of the Asia Cup 2025, where the hosts will join India and two other teams from Group A. Meanwhile, the ICC has not yet issued a formal statement about whether Pakistan will face disciplinary action for refusing to play.