In a major setback for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the International Cricket Council (ICC) has turned down its formal request to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from officiating further games in the Asia Cup 2025.
The controversy arose during the high-octane India-Pakistan clash in Dubai on September 14, when Pakistan captain Salman Agha was reportedly instructed not to shake hands with his Indian counterpart at the toss. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), lodged a formal complaint accusing Pycroft of violating the ICC Code of Conduct and the Spirit of Cricket.
ICC Rejects Urgent Plea
According to ICC sources, PCB’s plea for Pycroft’s immediate removal was reviewed late Monday night but ultimately rejected. “The ICC has replied that Pycroft will continue officiating and will not be removed from the Asia Cup,” a source confirmed.
Pycroft, a senior match referee with over 695 international matches across formats, is scheduled to officiate Pakistan’s final group-stage encounter against UAE on September 17.
Internal Fallout Within PCB
The incident has also triggered a shake-up within PCB’s management. Director of Cricket Operations, Usman Walha, has reportedly been sacked after failing to brief the team management about the tournament’s “no handshake” policy. This miscommunication allegedly left captain Salman Agha unaware of the rule, leading to the public embarrassment.
Possible Boycott Threat
Pakistan media reported that PCB had threatened to boycott the UAE match if Pycroft was not removed from the tournament. While no official statement confirming the boycott has been released, sources suggest that PCB is exploring alternate solutions, including having Richie Richardson officiate the UAE game as a compromise.
Qualification Scenarios For Pakistan
Pakistan currently have one win from two games and must defeat UAE to secure a place in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup 2025. A victory would set up another clash with India in the next stage, scheduled for Sunday.
What Lies Ahead
With ICC standing firm on its decision, PCB’s next course of action remains unclear. Whether the board follows through on its boycott threat or finds a middle ground will be keenly watched, especially as the tournament enters a crucial phase.
