Pakistan to Face UAE in Asia Cup with Referee Change

The Asia Cup match between Pakistan and the UAE will see a change in match referee, with Richie Richardson set to replace Andy Pycroft. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rescinded its threat to withdraw from the tournament and is now scheduled to play its final group league match against the UAE. The PCB had previously sought to remove Andy Pycroft, following an incident where Indian players did not shake hands with Pakistani players as a sign of respect for the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The ICC ultimately rejected the PCB’s request. The decision to allow Richardson to referee the UAE match is reportedly a relief to PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also holds a position as the Home Minister in the Shahbaz Sharif government.