The International Cricket Council (ICC) is unlikely to accept the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from the Asia Cup 2025. Reports suggest that even though the PCB has threatened to boycott its next match against the UAE, the ICC does not plan to replace the referee.
The issue began after India’s players did not shake hands with Pakistan’s cricketers following their Asia Cup clash. Pakistan complained that this act was against the spirit of cricket and accused the referee of failing to act. However, the ICC feels Pycroft only passed along messages between the teams and did not have any major role in what happened. Removing him could also set a precedent that one team’s complaint is enough to replace an official.
The controversy started when Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands with Pakistan’s skipper Salman Agha at the toss. After India won the match, Yadav and teammate Shivam Dube walked straight to the dressing room without greeting Pakistan’s players. This upset the Pakistan team, and soon the matter turned serious.
Pakistan’s skipper, Salman Agha, refused to attend the post-match presentation as a form of protest. The PCB then lodged a formal complaint with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and later raised the issue with the ICC. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi posted on social media that the board had requested the immediate removal of the match referee, accusing him of failing to uphold the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC’s Spirit of Cricket guidelines.
The PCB argued that the behaviour of Indian players was unsporting and against the traditions of cricket. Team manager Naveed Cheema also made a strong protest, stating that the incident reflected poorly on the game. According to Pakistan, not shaking hands after a match went against long-followed cricketing customs.
Despite the PCB’s strong reaction, reports suggest that the ICC is not willing to accept the demand of removing Andy Pycroft. Officials believe that Pycroft’s role was very limited, as he may have only passed along information that Suryakumar Yadav did not wish to shake hands with Pakistan’s captain. Since the referee did not make or enforce this decision, punishing him would be seen as unfair.
The ICC also feels that giving in to such demands could create a dangerous precedent. If one team’s complaint could lead to the removal of a referee, it might encourage other teams to pressure the ICC whenever they are unhappy with an official’s actions. This could harm the neutrality and independence of match officials.
At the moment, the ICC has not released an official response to the PCB’s request. However, insiders believe it is almost certain that the demand will not be met. The board is expected to stand by Pycroft and move forward with the tournament as planned.
The PCB has threatened to boycott its upcoming match against the UAE if its demand is not met. While this raises the stakes, many experts believe Pakistan is unlikely to follow through with a full boycott, as it could lead to fines, penalties, and loss of goodwill in international cricket.
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For now, the issue has brought unwanted attention to the Asia Cup. Instead of focusing on the cricket itself, headlines are dominated by the handshake controversy. Fans and former players are divided—some believe handshakes are just a formality and should not be made into a big issue, while others argue that respecting traditions is an important part of cricket’s culture.
This is not the first time handshakes have caused debate in cricket. Over the years, there have been other instances where teams avoided handshakes due to on-field tensions or political disputes. However, this is one of the rare times that a formal complaint has been lodged at such a high level.
The Asia Cup 2025 has been overshadowed by a controversy that started with something as simple as a handshake. While Pakistan has taken a strong stand by protesting against India’s players and demanding the removal of referee Andy Pycroft, the ICC is unlikely to take such an extreme step.
The governing body is expected to back its official, especially since Pycroft’s role in the matter seems limited. For now, cricket fans will be watching closely to see whether Pakistan follows through on its boycott threat or if the matter calms down before the next match.
In the end, the situation highlights how fragile relations remain between India and Pakistan in cricket, where even small actions can spark big disputes. Whether this issue fades away or creates longer-lasting tensions will depend on how both boards handle it in the coming days.
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