The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has broken his silence on why Pakistan did not proceed with its threatened boycott of the Asia Cup 2025 match against the United Arab Emirates. The controversy stemmed from the no-handshake incident following the India vs Pakistan clash earlier in the tournament, which triggered strong objections from the PCB regarding match referee Andy Pycroft.
Hours before Pakistan’s fixture against the UAE, the game was delayed by one hour as board officials, including Naqvi, Ramiz Raja, and Najam Sethi, held intense discussions over whether to go ahead with the boycott. The PCB had pushed for Pycroft’s removal as match referee, but the request was denied by the ICC. Eventually, the match went ahead after Pycroft issued an apology to Pakistan’s team management, admitting that the no-handshake episode should not have occurred.
Naqvi stated that the decision not to boycott was influenced by consultations with former chairmen and with the support of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior government officials. “Boycotting the Asia Cup would have been a massive step, with major consequences for Pakistan cricket,” Naqvi told reporters. He added that the PCB was closely monitoring the situation, emphasizing that “politics and sports must remain separate.”
Najam Sethi echoed this sentiment, saying the PCB has consistently advocated for keeping politics away from the game. He pointed out that Pakistan had achieved its main objective, which was to secure an apology from the referee, and stressed that cricket should be the ultimate winner.
The PCB also acknowledged that pulling out of the Asia Cup would have caused significant financial losses and could have resulted in claims for compensation from broadcasters. By choosing to continue, Pakistan avoided destabilizing the tournament and reinforced its stance that the sport should remain independent of political conflicts.
The controversy was further fueled by India captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicating his team’s win against Pakistan to the Indian Armed Forces and the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, a move the PCB believes politicized the sport. The lack of post-match handshakes between the two teams added to the tension, sparking global reactions.
As the Asia Cup 2025 continues, Pakistan’s participation ensures the tournament remains intact, though the incident has once again highlighted the fragile balance between politics, cricket, and international relations.
