Heat, Reluctance, and Finally Pakistan’s 41-Run Relief Win

An India–Pakistan clash always comes with extra tension. That heat is felt not only on the cricket field but also in the political sphere of both nations. After their most recent encounter, an unusual controversy arose: the customary post-match handshake between the two captains did not take place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The aftermath of that incident spilled into Pakistan’s next match as well — against the United Arab Emirates.

Even before the game began, drama unfolded. Pakistan showed reluctance and hesitation throughout the day, and eventually, the match started an hour later than scheduled.

When play finally got underway, Pakistan secured a much-needed 41-run victory. Fakhar Zaman’s fifty with the bat, along with combined bowling efforts from Shaheen, Haris, and Abrar, guided Salman Agha’s side to relief.

However, the start wasn’t ideal for Pakistan. Winning the toss and electing to bat, their openers Saeem Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan were dismissed cheaply, leaving the team reeling at 10 for 2. Captain Salman Agha and Fakhar Zaman tried to steady the innings, putting together a crucial 61-run stand. But at 70, Agha fell to Dhruv Parashar for 20.

Fakhar kept one end secure, scoring a solid 50 off 36 balls, providing Pakistan with some stability. Yet, the rest of the batting faltered. Simranjeet Singh dismissed Fakhar for 50 and struck again in the same over, removing Hasan Nawaz (3). In his second spell, he sent back Khushdil Shah (4). With three wickets lost in seven deliveries, Pakistan came under pressure once again.

Then Junaid Siddique returned to add further damage, removing Mohammad Haris (18) and Mohammad Nawaz (4). A late cameo from Shaheen Afridi, who remained unbeaten on 29 off 14, pushed Pakistan to 146 for 9 in 20 overs.

For UAE, Junaid Siddique was the standout bowler, taking 4 wickets for just 18 runs in his 4 overs. Simranjeet Singh picked up 3 wickets for 26 runs, while Dhruv Parashar claimed one.

Chasing 147, UAE’s innings faltered early. Shaheen Afridi removed opener Alishan Sharafu (12), while Abrar Ahmed dismissed Mohammad Waseem (14). Saeem Ayub then bowled Muhammad Zuhaib (4). In trouble at 3 down, UAE found hope in Rahul Chopra and Dhruv Parashar, who built a 48-run stand. But Haris Rauf broke the partnership, dismissing Parashar (25).

From there, the collapse began. Asif Khan fell for a duck to Abrar, while skipper Salman Agha removed the set Rahul Chopra (35), UAE’s top scorer. Wickets kept tumbling, with Harshit Kaushik (0), Simranjeet Singh (1), Haider Ali (6), and Muhammad Rahid (run out for 0) all falling quickly.

UAE’s innings ended at 105 in 17.4 overs, handing Pakistan a 41-run victory. For Pakistan, Shaheen, Abrar, and Haris Rauf picked up two wickets each, while Salman Agha and Saeem Ayub claimed one apiece.

Yet, beyond the field, the bigger talking point remained the controversy surrounding Pakistan’s delayed participation. Following the handshake saga after the India match, Pakistan expressed anger, claiming that match referee Andy Pycroft had instructed the two captains not to shake hands. With Pycroft again appointed for this match, Pakistan raised objections, leading to the delayed start.

Later, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued a statement saying that the ICC’s controversial match referee Andy Pycroft had apologized to the team manager and captain. According to the PCB, Pycroft admitted that he had instructed the captains not to shake hands after the India-Pakistan clash. After strong protest from Pakistan, Pycroft described the September 14 incident as a “misunderstanding” and offered an apology. The ICC has since launched an investigation into a possible breach of the code of conduct.