Asia Cup 2025: Richardson in, Pycroft Out? Referee Row Prompts Change for PAK vs UAE Match

Amid the ongoing referee controversy in Asia Cup 2025, Richie Richardson is likely to officiate the Pakistan vs UAE match after PCB objected to Andy Pycroft’s presence.

Dubai: In the Asia Cup 2025 the 10th match of the edition will be played between Pakistan and UAE today. Following the handshake controversy, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had requested the ICC to remove match referee Andy Pycroft, which the ICC rejected on Tuesday.

​​Meanwhile, Pakistani media reported that the PCB would boycott the Asia Cup 2025 if the match referee was not removed. Official sources have denied that the PCB will boycott the Asia Cup. Now some reports said that PCB does not want Andy Pycroft to be the match referee for their upcoming matches.

Ritchie Richardson May Refree

After the ICC rejected PCB request, the Pakistan Cricket Board made another proposal. The Pakistan does not want Andy Pycroft to be the match referee for their matches, so Richie richardson could be the match referee for today's Pakistan vs UAE match.

Match referee Andy Pycroft will not officiate the remaining matches of Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025. He will be replaced by Richie Richardson.

Pakistan had threatened to withdraw from the Asia Cup 2025 after Indian players refused to shake hands with Pakistani players.… pic.twitter.com/XHtYai8jQd

— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) September 17, 2025

Both Richardson and Andy Pycroft were appointed as match referees for the tournament. The PCB had requested the removal of Pycroft from Pakistan's matches, but the ICC rejected this request. According to sources, Pycroft will only referee non-Pakistan matches.

Is Pakistan Boycott Tournament?

Pakistani media reported that Pakistan would boycott the tournament and not play against the UAE if the ICC did not accede to the PCB's request. After the ICC rejected the request, the biggest question was what Pakistan would do next. Meanwhile, official sources have denied that the PCB will boycott the Asia Cup.

India Is In Super-4

Two teams from Group A will qualify for the Super 4. India's place is already secured, while the other team will be the winner of today's match (PAK vs UAE). Pakistan defeated Oman in their first match and lost to India in their second match. The UAE's first match was against India, which they lost, but then they defeated Oman in their second match.

Handshake Controversy

For the record, the Indian team players did not shake hands with the Pakistani players after winning the match. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav clarified that refusing to shake hands was not directed at the Pakistani cricket team, but rather a symbolic gesture of solidarity with the families of the victims of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed. Pakistan was outraged by this action taken by the Indian team.