It's confirmed—Pakistan will not participate in the Asia Cup. On September 17th, they refused to play the match against UAE. As Pakistan had indicated after the handshake dispute with India on September 14th, it transpired just so.
The entire controversy kicked off with the September 14th Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan. When the Indian team didn't shake hands with the Pakistani players, it stirred substantial anger, as if something extraordinary had happened.
By September 17th, several developments emerged in this ongoing saga. Pakistan demanded the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft. Complaints about Indian players were also lodged with the ICC. Over these four days, it seemed like Pakistan's grievances were unending as they clung to the handshake dispute.
September 14: Pakistan Defeated, Handshake Dispute Prevails
In the grand matchup of the Asia Cup, Suryakumar Yadav's squad dominated Pakistan, winning by seven wickets. During the toss, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav refrained from shaking hands with Salman Aga. After the match, Pakistani players yearned for a handshake, but the Indian team retreated into the dressing room.
In the post-match press conference, Suryakumar Yadav clarified why no handshake occurred. He stated, "Our government and the BCCI were in agreement. We came to play cricket and give Pakistan a fitting response." Notably, Pakistan's captain Salman Ali Aga was absent from the post-match ceremony.
September 15: PCB Lodges Complaint with ACC
The 'No Handshake' moment between India and Pakistan on September 15th set the cricket world abuzz. Pakistan team manager Naveed Akhtar Cheema filed a complaint with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). In response, Pakistan further embroiled match referee Andy Pycroft, and Mohsin Naqvi's tweet surfaced. The PCB accused Pycroft of instructing the captains not to shake hands during the toss. Moreover, the PCB suspended its director of international cricket operations on the same day.
Source: aajtak
Late on September 15th, the ICC dismissed the PCB's demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from the Asia Cup. Following an investigation, the ICC informed PCB of its decision.
September 16: Press Conference Cancelled Before Match
Continuing to demand Pycroft's removal, the PCB threatened to boycott the Asia Cup. Consequently, they canceled their scheduled press conference on Tuesday before the UAE match.
September 17: A Sudden Reversal, Refusal to Play
By September 17th, it was expected that Pakistan would play against UAE. By noon, Pakistan retracted its withdrawal threat from the Asia Cup and committed to playing on Wednesday against UAE. Richie Richardson replaced Andy Pycroft as match referee for this game. However, just hours before the match began, Pakistan refused to play.
