Gargi Raut in Dubai
The Asia Cup started on a sour note here in Dubai, with the Indian fans divided on whether India should play against Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attacks and the pain it had caused the nation. Ryan Ten Doescathe, India’s assistant coach, ahead of the India-Pakistan game, mentioned about a certain “frustrating” waiting period where the management wasn’t sure about the team’s participation in the tournament.
The tension had reached its peak on the morning of 14th of September, a typical scorching day in Dubai. While the city’s temperature dropped as the sun went down, the drama heated up when India’s skipper Suryakumar Yadav scored the winning runs and casually walked back to the dressing room. It wasn’t a day for customary handshakes and the Pakistan team was left hanging out in the middle. Pakistan captain Salman Agha and coach Mike Hesson, in an attempt to resolve the nondescript issue, made their way to the Indian dressing room, only to find the doors shut. To say the least, the incident did not sit well with Pakistan and it soon opened up a can of worms.
The Pakistan Cricket Board wrote to the ICC about their disappointment with the conduct of the Indian team and why the match referee, the man of the moment—Andy Pycroft did not do anything to prevent the whole ordeal. Also asking for Pycroft’s removal from Pakistan’s game against UAE. On the day, rumours swirled as the clock ticked. The PCB wrote to the ICC for a second time after the international body dismissed its initial inquiry, asking for Pycroft’s removal and an investigation into the officials involved in the India-Pakistan game; setting off one of the most dramatic off-field episodes the cricket world had seen in years.
Around 4:30 pm local, the reports about Pakistan pulling out kept growing stronger. The team still hadn’t left for the stadium and the game was only two hours away. It is routine for the players to be on the field about an hour and a half ahead of the game, yet Pakistan’s team bus stood outside their hotel gate.
By chance, if they had pulled out the game, logic would have said—what would Pakistan even get out of doing so? Will it be a face saver for the board? Remember, Pakistan doesn’t have the means to afford an 18-million dollar fine for withdrawing mid-tournament, yet the drama continued.
News came in…the players’ kits had been loaded into the team bus, yet the seats remained empty. The dialogue about the team’s participation is still on. Minutes later, another source revealed—a few players had boarded the bus. “The game is on!” Or so it seemed.
It was confirmed that the players who had boarded the bus were told to go back to their hotel rooms, and PCB chair Mohsin Naqvi would soon hold a press conference in Lahore. Meanwhile, despite social media conjecture, Andy Pycroft was in the stadium. As the clock struck five. Pakistan was nowhere near the stadium, the empty bus stood still outside the Grosvenor Hotel. “The game is..off?” or so we thought.
Just when it seemed Pakistan was about to announce their withdrawal, reports emerged that the team had boarded the bus and were on their way. The match was officially delayed by an hour, with Pycroft still confirmed as match referee. Somewhere, in some unseen room, the ultimate act of de-escalation had been carried out. Naqvi tweeted “We have asked the Pakistan team to depart for the Dubai Cricket Stadium. Further details to follow.”
Rumors spread on social media that Pycroft had “apologised” to the team, only for it to turn out that it was just that… a rumour. Pycroft had apologised for any “miscommunication”, there was no formal or exclusive apology directed at the team. ICC had cleared Pycroft of any wrongdoing, stating that he had not breached any code of conduct and did not warrant a removal or replacement.
TVs turned on out of curiosity—what details had Mr. Naqvi hinted at in his tweet that were about to follow? Will the team walk out of the stadium after delaying the game for an hour? Will the team refuse to shake hands with the now popular match referee?
But alas, the match went on, scripting one of the most bizarre incidents in recent cricket history.
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