PAK vs UAE: Pakistan team prepares to play the match, the match will start late

Sports News: Today, Pakistan will face the United Arab Emirates in the 10th match of the Asia Cup 2025. This match will take place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. However, significant news was emerging before the match. The Pakistani team did not leave the hotel by the scheduled time. As a result, speculation began that the team might boycott the match. Now, it has been confirmed that the Pakistan team will play this match. The match will start one hour late.  

Pakistan team leaves

The Pakistan team had decided to boycott today's match. The team did not leave the hotel for a long time. A team bus was parked at the hotel. The players' kit bags were placed on it, but the players did not board the bus. Some players boarded the team bus but were asked to return to their rooms. The bus has now left the hotel for the stadium. 

आज का मैच बायकाट कर सकती है। आज उसे यूएई से भिड़ना था लेकिन अभी तक टीम स्टेडियम से नहीं निकली है।#Pakistan

— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) September 17, 2025

UAE would benefit

Had Pakistan not played today's match, the UAE would have advanced directly to the Super Four. Pakistan lost their previous match to India, while the UAE defeated Oman in their previous match. Therefore, today's match is no less than a knockout. The winning team will advance to the Super Four, while the losing team will be eliminated.  

पाकिस्तान टीम स्टेडियम की तरफ चल दी है। जय शाह के नेतृत्व वाला आइसीसी पीसीबी के सामने नहीं झुका।#PakistanCricket

— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) September 17, 2025

Pakistan again demanded

Pakistan today again demanded the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft. The ICC investigated and found Andy had committed no wrongdoing. The PCB's demand was rejected, and in frustration, it decided not to send the team yet. Pakistan had threatened to withdraw from the Asia Cup, demanding the removal of ICC match referee Andy Pycroft. However, the PCB did not accept this demand. Had the Pakistan team boycotted the match, it could have suffered losses of US$12 to 16 million (approximately Rs 140 crore).

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) allocates 15 percent each to the five Test-playing nations (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan) in the annual revenue distribution, totaling 75 percent, while associate nations receive the remaining 25 percent.