The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly set to dismiss the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) request to remove senior match referee Andy Pycroft from the ongoing Asia Cup 2025.
The PCB had accused Pycroft of triggering the “no-handshake” controversy during Pakistan’s Group A clash against India and had threatened to withdraw from the tournament if their demand was not met.
The controversy erupted after Indian players, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts following India’s win at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday (September 14). Yadav later clarified that the move was a gesture of solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year, in which 26 civilians were killed.
Pakistan’s team management, however, was furious. Team manager Naved Cheema filed an official complaint with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), chaired by PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, accusing Pycroft of initiating the no-handshake call during the toss. Subsequently, PCB escalated the matter to the ICC, demanding Pycroft’s removal from the referee panel for the remainder of the Asia Cup.
“The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has demanded immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup,” Naqvi wrote on social media.
However, ICC sources told Cricbuzz that the governing body sees “no sufficient grounds” to act against Pycroft. The consensus within ICC is that Pycroft’s role was minimal — he merely conveyed a message from the ACC to the Pakistan captain to prevent public embarrassment at the toss. The ICC fears that replacing a match official at the insistence of one member board would set an unhealthy precedent.
Adding to this, a Times of India report suggested that Pycroft acted under instructions from an ACC official, not on his own initiative. “What has ICC got to do with it? The role ends when the officials are appointed. Someone from the ACC had a chat with Pycroft before the game. PCB needs to find out who gave the instruction and why, instead of blaming ICC,” a source told TOI.
Despite ICC’s stance, the ACC is reportedly considering a compromise to calm tensions — removing Pycroft from officiating Pakistan’s remaining matches. If this happens, veteran referee Richie Richardson could take over for Pakistan’s final group-stage match against the UAE on Wednesday.
It remains to be seen whether this middle-ground solution satisfies PCB, or if the board proceeds with its boycott threat — a move that could cast a shadow over the remainder of the Asia Cup 2025.
