Umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge was forced off the field after being struck on the ear during Pakistan’s Asia Cup clash against UAE in Dubai. Pakistan posted 146/9, led by Fakhar Zaman’s 50 and Shaheen Afridi’s 29*. UAE’s chase began shakily, with strikes from Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed in their very first overs.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued a statement that ICC match referee Andy Pycroft apologized for the “no-handshake” incident during the India-Pakistan Asia Cup match, saying that it happened due to miscommunication. Earlier, the PCB formally requested Pycroft’s replacement for their subsequent match, a request that was denied. Pycroft is the match referee for the…
Watching India and Pakistan train in Dubai highlighted the gulf between the two sides. India’s discipline, punctuality and structured sessions contrasted starkly with Pakistan’s disorganised approach. While Indian batters endured rigorous drills under coaches, Pakistan turned to casual football and trial-and-error practice — mirroring their struggles on the field.
Grandmaster R Vaishali secured her spot in the Women’s Candidates tournament 2026 by winning the Women’s Grand Swiss in Samarkand, a remarkable comeback after a disastrous performance in Chennai. Her brother, GM Praggnanandhaa, and her family played a crucial role in convincing her to participate, before fate intervened.
Amidst controversy, ICC match referee Andy Pycroft may be replaced for the Pakistan-UAE match following PCB’s complaint regarding his conduct during the India game, which led to a “no-handshake” issue. The PCB demanded Pycroft’s removal from the Asia Cup, threatening to pull out of the tournament.
Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 campaign faces turmoil as they cancelled a pre-match press conference before their crucial game against UAE, escalating tensions after threatening to withdraw from the tournament over a handshake controversy involving India.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is unlikely to withdraw from the Asia Cup 2025, despite rising tensions over the role of match referee Andy Pycroft during Pakistan’s match against India in Dubai on Sunday. Match referee Pycroft had asked Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha and Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav to skip the customary handshake at…
The ICC rejected PCB’s request to replace match referee Andy Pycroft during the Asia Cup after Pakistan alleged he instructed their captain to avoid handshakes with India’s captain. The ICC clarified that ACC officials informed Pycroft about the no-handshake policy.
