NEW DELHI: After a turbulent few days dominated by the handshake controversy and threats from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to pull out of the tournament, India are switching their focus back to cricket. The team is scheduled to resume training in Dubai on Tuesday, arriving at the ICC Academy around 5:40 PM local time (7:10 PM IST), with practice set to begin at 6:00 PM (7:30 PM IST). The drama off the field hasn’t derailed India’s on-field campaign. In fact, they have become the first team to qualify for the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup 2025. Their progression was sealed after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) comprehensively defeated Oman to register their first win of the tournament.
Powered by fluent half-centuries from both openers, the UAE posted a commanding 172/5. Their bowlers then ripped through Oman’s top order, grabbing four wickets inside the PowerPlay to leave the chase in ruins. Paceman Junaid Siddique starred with the ball as Oman never found momentum and eventually crashed out of the competition.This result confirmed India’s place in the Super 4s, even before they play their final group-stage match. Having already beaten both the UAE and arch-rivals Pakistan, India sit comfortably atop Group A with a commanding net run rate.
With Oman’s exit and India’s progression secure, the upcoming India-Oman clash is now a dead rubber.However, the stakes remain high elsewhere. The UAE will next face Pakistan in what is effectively a virtual knockout. The winner will join India in the Super 4 stage, while the loser will bow out.Pakistan, reeling from their seven-wicket defeat to India, face a do-or-die scenario. Their path to the Super 4 depends entirely on beating the UAE.
Complicating matters further is the PCB’s standoff with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over match referee Andy Pycroft, whom they accuse of breaching Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Spirit of Cricket protocols during the now-infamous handshake row. The PCB has even threatened to withdraw from the tournament if Pycroft is not removed.If the ICC rejects the PCB’s demand and Pakistan boycott their match against the UAE on Wednesday, they will be eliminated at the league stage, handing the UAE a walkover into the Super 4s.
