A Pakistan Cricket Board official has literally brushed off any possibilities of Pakistan boycotting the 2025 Asia Cup because Pakistan can't afford it financially. Had Pakistan really called it off, they would have had a loss of a massive USD 12-16 million (INR 105-141 crore). The boycott cry started in Pakistan, which claimed to pull out from the tournament if the International Cricket Council does not remove Andy Pycroft, the match referee of the India-Pakistan match, from the Asia Cup panel. A PTI report suggested that if PCB was really stubborn about boycotting, the country would have lost almost 7% of their annual revenue. A source anonymously said PTI, "Can Naqvi (Mohsin Naqvi, PCB chairman) risk Pakistan losing around USD 16 million out of a projected budget of USD 227 million for the fiscal year? That will be roughly seven per cent of the annual PCB revenue gone. It will be walking on thin ice for him. But again, as one of the important ministers of Pakistan, he also needs to keep his respect in front of his countrymen." PCB, as per the report, had a high chance to get cornered in the ACC meeting. The members might not have agreed to give their revenue shares from broadcast rights. Even Sony, the official broadcaster, might deny paying had they suffered a loss too. Notably, Naqvi, apart from being the PCB Chairman, holds the post of Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control in Pakistan. Read also: How Afghanistan Can Still Qualify for Super 4s in Asia Cup 2025 Late-night meeting decided Pakistan's fate The full 15-member Pakistan squad trained intensely under the scorching Dubai sun, while off the field, they awaited instructions from PCB headquarters in Lahore. Reports indicate that PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi returned from Islamabad, where he consulted the government regarding Pakistan’s Asia Cup participation amid the ongoing handshake controversy. Naqvi convened a late-night meeting to discuss the standoff with the ICC over match referee Andy Pycroft. Although Pakistani media kept things simple, saying his Islamabad visit was officially linked to interior ministry matters and had no connection to the tournament dispute. A scheduled pre-match press conference was abruptly canceled, just before the team’s training session. ICC declined Pakistan’s request to remove Pycroft completely, but Richie Richardson will officiate the UAE clash instead.