The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has claimed a “moral victory” after a tense standoff with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the conduct of match referee Andy Pycroft, stemming from Pakistan’s match against India on September 14 in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025.
The Handshake Controversy: What Sparked the Dispute
The controversy began during the high-voltage Pakistan vs. India clash in Dubai, where Indian players—led by Suryakumar Yadav—did not participate in the traditional post-match handshake. The PCB took exception to what they viewed as a breach of cricketing etiquette and lodged an official complaint with the ICC, accusing India of violating the “spirit of the game.”
Fueling the tensions further was the political backdrop of the recent Pahalgam terror attack in India, which had sparked calls in India for a boycott of matches against Pakistan. Despite public pressure, the Indian government allowed the Asia Cup fixture to go ahead, maintaining that India would continue to honor its commitments in ICC and ACC events.
After India defeated Pakistan convincingly by seven wickets, the lack of post-match interaction drew criticism in Pakistani media. The PCB later accused match referee Andy Pycroft of instructing both teams to avoid the handshake—a move they described as unjustified and inflammatory.
PCB Demands Pycroft’s Removal; ICC Pushes Back
What followed was a behind-the-scenes standoff. According to reports from Cricbuzz, the PCB sent multiple emails and made direct phone calls to the ICC, demanding Pycroft’s removal from the panel of officials for the rest of the Asia Cup. The PCB reportedly made this a “non-negotiable” condition for its continued participation in the tournament.
In a show of protest before their match against the UAE on September 17, Pakistan’s players and coaching staff refused to board the team bus, delaying the game by over an hour. Eventually, they agreed to play—though Pycroft remained as match referee.
Despite the PCB’s strong stance, the ICC stood firm. Officials believed that giving in to such demands would set a dangerous precedent. A senior ICC representative reportedly told the PCB that the appointment of match officials is a central decision and cannot be swayed by individual cricket boards, regardless of the circumstances.
“A change of umpire, the ICC feared, would have set a dangerous precedent,” reported journalist Vijay Tagore. He further revealed that although the PCB claimed Pycroft apologized, ICC insiders described it more as a “clarification” over miscommunication rather than an outright apology.
The video circulated by the PCB to support their claim—now deleted—had no audio, raising questions about the narrative being pushed. According to Cricbuzz, Pycroft expressed regret for any confusion around the pre-match protocols but stopped short of admitting fault or apologizing in the official sense.
In the end, Pakistan defeated the UAE by 41 runs, securing their place in the Super Four stage of the tournament.
PCB Declares “Moral Victory”
Following the win, the PCB released a statement emphasizing that the ICC had agreed to look into the events of September 14. “The ICC has expressed its willingness to conduct an inquiry into the code of conduct violation that occurred,” the statement read. It also reiterated that Pycroft had apologized for barring the captains from shaking hands, a decision the PCB said was never communicated beforehand.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi also addressed the issue in Lahore, stating: “This crisis has been going on since the match against India. We had an objection to Pycroft’s conduct. This matter was only solved after Pycroft apologised over miscommunication at the toss. Cricket and politics cannot go together.”
Despite not getting Pycroft removed, the PCB projected the outcome as a diplomatic win. Still, experts suggest that any actual withdrawal from the tournament would have sparked legal consequences and financial fallout for Pakistan cricket—something the board could ill afford.
As the Asia Cup progresses, the spotlight remains on the tense India-Pakistan dynamic—both on and off the field.
