The clash between Pakistan and UAE at the Asia Cup felt like a scene straight out of a rock-and-roll drama, aptly summarized by Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters.” The day in Dubai began with unexpected delays and significant tension.
The match kicked off an hour late after Pakistan threatened to boycott the tournament if match referee Andy Pycroft continued his officiating duties. Players were reportedly ready to board their team bus at the hotel but were instructed to hold back amidst the unfolding crisis. In Lahore, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi urgently consulted with former PCB heads, Najam Sethi and Ramiz Raja, to navigate the escalating situation.
Following these intense discussions, the PCB issued a statement, announcing that “ICC match referee Andy Pycroft has apologised to Pakistan’s captain & manager after barring the India vs Pakistan handshake on September 14, calling it a miscommunication.” Subsequently, Mohsin Naqvi confirmed on social media that the Pakistan team had been instructed to proceed to the Dubai Cricket Stadium.
Amidst the chaos, the PCB also released a video showing Pycroft engaging in conversation with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha and coach Mike Hesson. When it was time for the toss, Pycroft fulfilled his duties alongside both captains but swiftly exited the pitch without exchanging handshakes. Despite the dramatic lead-up, Pakistan decisively defeated UAE by 41 runs, successfully advancing to the Super Four where they are set to face arch-rivals India in a blockbuster rematch on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium.
However, the drama wasn’t entirely over. During the post-match press conference, Pakistan’s media manager Naeem Gilani attempted to steer questions towards the match itself. Yet, with off-field events having so thoroughly dominated the day, both UAE captain Muhammad Waseem and Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf found themselves fielding probing questions about the controversy.
Both players handled the situation with remarkable composure. Haris Rauf, the fast bowler, clarified that the team felt no pressure, attributing the handling of the situation to the PCB. “These things are not in my control. These are the decisions of the board, this is a headache for them and they can manage it well,” Rauf stated, emphasizing his singular focus on the game. “Instead, I had to play a match today. My focus was only on the match. The rest of the things outside of it, management knows better and they have tackled it really well.”
UAE captain Muhammad Waseem echoed similar sentiments, highlighting his team’s unwavering concentration on cricket. “This is not our responsibility or our work, we are focusing on our game. We came here for the game,” he explained. “We came with a plan for our game, and we planned that only. We came for the warm-up normally, the way we always do, and we were ready for the game. Doesn’t matter if we are playing on time or playing late… this is not our work — this is for the organizers only.”
When pressed on whether the “handshake-gate” controversy impacted team unity, especially given the diverse Indian and Pakistani backgrounds of many UAE players, Waseem firmly dismissed the notion. “No, no, we are not talking about that because we are playing too much cricket with each other. We are very used to it, we are here like a family. No Indian, no Pakistani for us. We are playing for UAE, we are playing here as a family, we are living as a family, that’s it.”
In essence, much like the lyrics of “Nothing Else Matters,” the cricketers were driven by a pure passion for the sport, remaining entirely unfazed by the day’s dramatic interruptions. For them, in the end, “nothing else matters.”