Is Pakistan National Team going to pull off another boycott stunt in today’s game against India? The name of the referee become a point of frustration

The Indian team remains unbeaten in the Asia Cup 2025, having won three consecutive matches. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian team will now play its first Super 4 stage match against fierce-rivals Pakistan. The match will be played on Sunday, September 21st, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, starting at 20:00 PM (8:00 PM) IST.

A significant piece of information has emerged regarding this epic match. Sources indicate that Zimbabwe's Andy Pycroft will be the match referee. Pycroft was also the referee in the previous India-Pakistan match. He also officiated in the UAE-Pakistan match. Pycroft has officiated in 103 Tests, 248 ODIs, and 185 T20 Internationals.

Must Read - Super-4, IND vs PAK: No Handshake Part-2, tensions are going to be high, Will Surya finally extend his hand to Salman Agha this time?

However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) created a lot of controversy regarding Andy Pycroft before the match against the UAE. The PCB demanded that the International Cricket Council (ICC) remove Andy Pycroft from the Asia Cup . However, the PCB's demand was rejected by the governing body of cricket.

What accusations did the PCB level against Pycroft?

The Pakistan Cricket Board alleged that Andy Pycroft had advised Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistani player Agha Salman not to shake hands. Angered by the Indian players' refusal to shake hands, the Pakistani team boycotted the awards ceremony.

Amid the controversy, the Pakistani team threatened to withdraw from the tournament. Consequently, the start of the match against the UAE was delayed by an hour. After lengthy negotiations between the ICC, PCB, and Asian Cricket Council (ACC), Pakistan played the match and defeated the UAE, securing their place in the Super Four. This time, the match will be played at the same stadium where the controversy erupted last time.

The Indian team defeated Oman by 21 runs in their final group match. Prior to that, they maintained their perfect Group A record by defeating the UAE and Pakistan. Meanwhile, the Salman Agha-led Pakistan team won the Super 4 stage against the UAE and Oman, but lost to India by 7 wickets.

This match between India and Pakistan is always a high-voltage affair, as the rivalry and history between the two teams is deeply ingrained. By appointing Andy Pycroft, the ICC has made it clear that the role of the match referee is paramount. It has also made it clear that the match will not be affected by any external interference.

Do Read - Asia Cup Super-4: What are India's match dates and opponents in the Super-4 of the Asia Cup? Check out the complete schedule