ASIA CUP CONTROVERSY: MATCH REFEREE ANDY PYCROFT REMOVED

 ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman has directed the national team to go to the stadium after the demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft was accepted.

Following this decision, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman has directed the national team to go to the stadium. Andy Pycroft will not umpire in the Pakistan-UAE match.

The toss for the Pakistan-UAE match will be held at 8 pm, and the game will start at 8:30 pm. The demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft has been accepted.

Earlier, a PCB spokesperson told the media that the scheduled match between Pakistan and the UAE will start with an hour delay. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is continuing to consult with the former PCB chairman.

Today’s match between Pakistan and the UAE is very important because the winner will face India on the 21st. Match referee Andy Pycroft had earlier stopped the Pakistani and Indian captains from shaking hands after the Indian captain made political remarks at the end of the match.

Both Pycroft and the Indian captain violated MCC regulations. Pakistan took a principled stand, demanding Pycroft be removed from the Asia Cup and Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav be punished for his political remarks.

- Daily Ausaf 

PAKISTAN-ENGLAND TESTS TO BE HELD IN MULTAN, RAWALPINDI

General shot of Multan Cricket Stadium Getty Images

England's Test tour of Pakistan next month will comprise back-to-back fixtures in Multan and a series finale in Rawalpindi, with the PCB finally giving the go-ahead to its revised schedule after a protracted delay.

The original itinerary for the three-Test series, which forms part of the ICC World Test Championship, had involved a second Test in Karachi - the venue where England secured a historic 3-0 clean sweep on their most recent visit to the country in December 2022.

However, the National Stadium in Karachi is currently undergoing major renovation work to prepare it for the ICC Champions Trophy in February 2025, and with Rawalpindi unavailable for the second Test due to a major international conference in neighbouring Islamabad from October 15-16, the series had at one stage seemed set to be relocated to the UAE, with Abu Dhabi raised as a possible venue.

Now, however, an agreement has been reached that the series will begin and end in Multan and Rawalpindi as originally scheduled, but the teams will remain in Multan for the second Test as well.

England are due to arrive in Multan on October 2, with Pakistan's squad set to assemble in the city on the same date. The first Test gets underway from October 7-11, with the second following four days later, from October 15-19. The teams will then relocate to Rawalpindi for the third Test from October 24-28.

"PCB is thrilled to welcome the England men's cricket team back to Pakistan," Usman Wahla, PCB Director, International, said. "Despite minor adjustments, we are committed to supporting fans and ensuring a memorable tour. We look forward to a fiercely competitive Test series and showcasing Pakistan's renowned hospitality."

The announcement ends weeks of uncertainty surrounding the series, for which England last week named an unusually large touring squad of 17 players. Speaking ahead of the recent third Test against Sri Lanka, England head coach Brendon McCullum pointed out his side needed to know the venues in advance to be able to pick a squad that suited the conditions.

The delay has been a huge frustration to England's fans, with a number of tour operators cancelling their arrangements amid the lack of logistical arrangements.

Revised itinerary

7-11 Oct First Test, Multan

15-19 Oct Second Test, Multan

24-28 Oct Third Test, Rawalpindi

- ESPNcricinfo staff