Super Four match between India and Pakistan to be played tomorrow
DUBAI: Andy Pycroft will continue as the match referee for the highly hyped Super Four game between India and Pakistan in the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 to be played tomorrow (Sunday) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Therow started at the group-stage match on September 14, when captains Salman Ali Agha and Suryakumar Yadav were told by Pycroft not to handshake at the toss.
This brought about palpable tension, with both skippers shunning traditional gestures prior and subsequent to the game.
Andy Pycroft to partner Pakistan-India Super Four game in spite of handshake debacle
After India’s victory, their players directly went back to the dressing room, with Pakistan’s team waiting in the field, further agitating the issue.
Pakistan’s team manager Naveed Akram Cheema made an official protest, stating that Pycroft handled the situation inappropriately. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi also made a formal complaint to the ICC, requesting him to be removed from Pakistan’s matches.
The request was turned down but Pycroft later apologized to Pakistan’s captain and team management before their game against the UAE, which had already been postponed due to behind-the-scenes talks.
In spite of the off-field turbulence, Pakistan proceeded to beat the UAE and earn their qualification for the Super Four stage along with India.
Elsewhere, Sri Lanka topped Group B without losing a game with six points, while Bangladesh were second on four.
India headed the Group A standings following their defeat of Oman, with Pakistan in second place. Oman concluded win-less, while the UAE got one.
The Super Four phase starts on Saturday in Dubai when Sri Lanka plays Bangladesh. India and Pakistan will confront each other at the same ground on Sunday, with Pakistan to play Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on September 23.
