ICC rejects PCB's demant to remove Andy Pycroft as match referee in Asia Cup 2025 - Reports

Andy Pycroft officiated as match referee during Sunday’s clash between India and Pakistan.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially rejected the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) demand to replace match referee Andy Pycroft from the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. This was after the PCB had accused Pycroft of instructing Suryakumar Yadav, the India captain, and Salman Agha, the Pakistan captain, not to shake hands at the toss.

Even according to the MCC guidelines, shaking hands with the opposition before or after a game is obviously not required, which is why the PCB is displeased with the Indian players’ response. The world body may respond by explaining the same point to the PCB.

The PCB said the Indian players’ refusal to shake hands with Pakistani players is a violation of the player code of conduct.

“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, who is the chairman of the PCB, said in a social media post on Monday.

But the demand of Naqvi, who also happens to be the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), doesn’t have much merit.

PCB receives a negative response from ICC over their demand to remove the match referee

Cricbuzz has reported it is quite probable that the governing body will not grant PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s request to have Andy Pycroft removed from the Asia Cup match refereeing panel.

Whether the ICC had formally replied to Naqvi’s correspondence was still unknown. The general consensus, however, is that there aren’t enough reasons to grant the PCB’s request. If there hasn’t been a response yet, one is anticipated soon.

Responding to PCB’s demand, ICC has explained that Pycroft cleared the air and disproved Pakistan’s claim that the match referee was representing the Indian team by telling Salman Agha what the ACC officials on the ground had told him.

This development has focused attention on Wednesday’s Pakistan-UAE match. The PCB has publicly said that it will not play if Pycroft (69) is the match official and if he will be the official referee for the match.

Although it is unclear if the ACC, led by PCB president Mohsin Naqvi, will be able to try to alter the match referee for the Pakistan-UAE match, the ICC typically appoints all match officials, including umpires and match referees.

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