• Pakistan's match against UAE in the Asia Cup delayed by one hour amid controversy.
• The refusal of Indian players to shake hands with Pakistan sparked tensions.
• Match referee Andy Pycroft apologized, allowing the match to take place.
• PCB expressed concerns over referee conduct leading to possible protest.
• Final decisions made just before Pakistan's departure for the stadium.

The Asia Cup cricket match between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was delayed by one hour amidst a significant fallout related to a recent confrontation between Pakistan and India. The dispute centered around match referee Andy Pycroft's alleged instruction to Pakistan's captain, Salman Agha, not to engage in a customary handshake with India's Suryakumar Yadav at the toss during their previous match. Following this incident, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) demanded Pycroft's removal as match referee for future games, which escalated the situation leading to the match being in jeopardy, according to Dawn, Al Jazeera, and TRT World.

Amidst this turmoil, the PCB did not hold their traditional pre-match press conference, opting instead to manage internal discussions about their potential withdrawal from the tournament. With increasing tension, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi held consultations with former board officials Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi, discussing the possible implications of their decision not to participate. Ultimately, the PCB decided against a withdrawal, with spokesperson Amir Mir indicating that a final decision was still pending, as reports emerged that the ICC had rejected Pakistan's demands regarding Pycroft's removal, according to Dawn and BBC.

The match was confirmed to go ahead, with Pycroft later apologizing for the earlier miscommunication. This apology came shortly before the scheduled toss, affirming the match would continue as planned at 8:30 PM PKT. PCB reported he termed the incident a result of miscommunication and indicated the ICC’s willingness for an inquiry into the events of the controversial match. The resolution ultimately allowed the players to head to the stadium, albeit with initial logistical delays, as documented by Dawn, Dawn, and Dawn.

The game remained crucial as it was a knockout match for both teams, with the winner progressing in the tournament. At the conclusion of delays, the tension between maintaining sportsmanship and national pride took center stage in discussions surrounding cricket diplomacy during the Asia Cup, as reflected in the reports from multiple sources, including Dawn and TRT World.