The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finally stepped back from its protest over the much-debated handshake row, choosing not to withdraw from the Asia Cup 2025. Salman Ali Agha and his men will now go ahead with their final group-stage clash against the UAE on Wednesday, avoiding what could have been a significant embarrassment for the board.

According to PTI, a compromise was reached between the PCB and the ICC, under which senior match referee Andy Pycroft will not officiate games involving Pakistan. Instead, former West Indies captain Richie Richardson has been appointed to oversee their upcoming fixture against the UAE.

This settlement comes after the ICC had earlier rejected PCB’s demand to remove Pycroft from the tournament entirely. Ironically, the rejection letter sent to the PCB was signed by Waseem Khan, the ICC’s General Manager and a former PCB CEO.

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The stakes were high for Pakistan. A pullout would have cost them nearly USD 16 million, a figure significant enough to severely dent the financials of a board already dwarfed by the BCCI’s economic power. Reports suggest PCB even cancelled a scheduled press conference before training to avoid answering questions about the threatened boycott.

On the field, Pakistan still faces a tough challenge. Their heavy defeat to India exposed glaring weaknesses, with new faces failing to deliver as effectively as India’s youngsters did. Even former players criticised the lack of depth and planning within the side.

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The fixture against the UAE is now a virtual do-or-die battle. If Pakistan falter, their campaign ends abruptly. The UAE, riding high after a dominant win over Oman, will be looking to cause an upset and keep their Super 4 hopes alive. Wednesday’s clash promises high drama, with both sides fighting for survival.