New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is not expected to entertain the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) request to remove Andy Pycroft from the panel of referees for the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. The 69-year-old official was accused by the PCB of triggering the no-handshake controversy between India and Pakistan after their group-stage clash in Dubai on Sunday.
The issue flared up when Indian players decided not to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts following their seven-wicket win. Captain Suryakumar Yadav later explained that the gesture was intended as a mark of solidarity with the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year, in which 26 civilians were killed.
However, Pakistan reacted sharply. First, team manager Naved Cheema lodged a formal complaint with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), headed by PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi. Soon after, the PCB escalated the matter to the ICC, claiming Pycroft had breached the spirit of Cricket and demanded his immediate removal from the tournament. Naqvi even warned of a possible Pakistan withdrawal if the plea was ignored.
ICC sees ‘minimal role’ for Pycroft
Despite the strong language from Pakistan, ICC is unlikely to act. According to a report by Cricbuzz, the governing body has found no substantial grounds to take PCB’s demand seriously. The general consensus within the ICC is that Pycroft’s involvement was limited to advising Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha before the toss to avoid an awkward scene. Officials believe replacing a referee under such circumstances would set an unhealthy precedent.
“The dominant view within the ICC is that Pycroft had only a minimal role in the handshake episode,” Cricbuzz quoted a source as saying. “It would be wrong to change a match official at the demand of one member when he had no serious role in the controversy.”
ACC link adds fresh twist
The controversy deepened after a Times of India report suggested that Pycroft might have acted on instructions from an ACC official, not the ICC. A source quoted by them asked, “What has ICC got to do with it? Someone from the ACC had a chat with Pycroft before the game and what happened at the toss was a result of that.” The source urged PCB to investigate who exactly gave those instructions rather than blaming the ICC.
Possible compromise on the cards
While the ICC is standing firm, the ACC is exploring a compromise. According to a PTI report, Pycroft could be removed from officiating Pakistan’s remaining matches in the competition. The Zimbabwean referee was originally slated to oversee Pakistan’s final group match against the UAE on Wednesday. If such a step is taken, Richie Richardson has been floated as a replacement acceptable to PCB.
Bigger picture
Beyond the immediate storm, the row adds another layer of strain to already fragile cricketing relations between India and Pakistan. How this matter is resolved will shape not just the remainder of the Asia Cup but also set the tone for how the two boards engage with ICC and ACC tournaments in the future.