The International Cricket Council is unlikely to bow to Pakistan’s request for the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from the Asia Cup over the handshake controversy that followed India’s win against Pakistan. While no official decision has been communicated, sources suggest the ICC rarely entertains such demands and is expected to stand by its appointed official.
The PCB is aggrieved over the Indian players’ refusal to exchange handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts after Sunday’s Asia Cup clash, an incident that has since spiralled into a diplomatic flashpoint. The board claims that Pycroft intervened at the toss, advising both captains to avoid the customary gesture. On Monday, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that a formal complaint had been lodged with the ICC, accusing the Zimbabwean of breaching both the Code of Conduct and the spirit of the game.
“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 an immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup,” Naqvi said on X.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav, meanwhile, defended his team’s refusal to exchange handshakes, saying it was a gesture of solidarity with the families of victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed. His explanation did little to placate the PCB, which first complained to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) before escalating the matter to the ICC.
In a dramatic escalation, the PCB threatened to withdraw from their next Group A match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) if the ICC did not remove Pycroft from the remainder of the eight-team tournament. The board argues that Pycroft’s intervention fuelled the post-match controversy, when Suryakumar Yadav and his team refused to shake hands with their opponents after India’s seven-wicket win.
Pycroft is among the most experienced officials in the game, having served on the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees since 2009. For the Asia Cup, the ICC had nominated both Pycroft and former West Indies captain Richie Richardson. The current Elite Panel also features India’s Javagal Srinath, New Zealand’s Jeff Crowe, and Sri Lanka’s Ranjan Madugalle.
WHAT HAPPENS IF PAKISTAN BOYCOTT UAE CLASH?
Pycroft is currently scheduled to officiate Pakistan’s decisive group game against the UAE. If the ICC stands firm and Pakistan go through with their threat to boycott, Salman Ali Agha’s side would face elimination. A forfeiture would hand the UAE an automatic win and a place in the Super 4, leaving Pakistan stranded on two points from their victory over Oman.
The qualification scenario is finely balanced. The UAE boosted their chances with a 42-run win over Oman in Abu Dhabi on Monday, joining Pakistan on two points. Should Pakistan skip Wednesday’s match, the UAE would move to four points and progress alongside India, who already top the group with two wins. Pakistan’s elimination in such a manner would be a self-inflicted blow.
If Pakistan do take the field, the encounter with the UAE will effectively be a knockout, with the winner advancing to the Super 4. The stakes could not be higher, and the ball is now firmly in the PCB’s and Naqvi’s court as the ICC weighs its response.
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