NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing handshake controversy and threats from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to pull out of the tournament, India have officially become the first team to qualify for the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup 2025. The development came after United Arab Emirates outplayed neighbours Oman to pick up their first win of the competition. Riding on fluent half-centuries from both openers, the UAE posted a strong 172/5 on the board. Their bowlers then ripped through Oman’s top order, striking four times inside the PowerPlay to leave the chase in tatters.
Paceman Junaid Siddique starred with the ball as Oman never found momentum and crashed out of the tournament.This result confirmed India’s berth in the Super 4s, even before they play their final group-stage match. Having already beaten both the UAE and arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening fixtures, India sit comfortably on top of Group A with a huge net run rate advantage.
With Oman’s exit and India’s progression sealed, the upcoming India-Oman clash now stands as a dead rubber. However, the stakes remain high elsewhere — the UAE will next face Pakistan in what is now effectively a knockout match. The winner will join India in the Super 4 stage, while the loser will bow out.Pakistan, who suffered a seven-wicket defeat to India, now face a do-or-die scenario. Their path to the Super 4 depends entirely on beating the UAE.
But adding to the tension is the PCB’s ongoing standoff with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over match referee Andy Pycroft, whom they have accused of violating the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Spirit of Cricket protocols in the recent handshake row. The PCB has 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 from the competition at the league stage itself, as the UAE would advance with two wins compared to Pakistan’s one.
