New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is not expected to grant the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) request to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from the Asia Cup 2025, despite the PCB threatening to boycott its upcoming match against the UAE, according to a report by Cricbuzz.
The report noted that the ICC has not yet provided any official response to PCB’s request for the referee’s removal. Furthermore, the ICC is unlikely to acquiesce to such demands, especially as it has been suggested that Pycroft played a minimal role in the so-called “handshake gate” incident, reportedly only relaying a message from India to Pakistan regarding Indian player Suryakumar Yadav’s reluctance to shake hands with Pakistan skipper Salman Agha.
Reports indicate that acquiescing to the request to remove a referee, particularly one whose involvement in the incident is deemed limited, could set a precarious precedent in future disputes.
The PCB previously lodged a complaint with the Asian Cricket Council alleging that Indian players violated the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws about the Spirit of Cricket by not exchanging handshakes. “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,” PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi stated in a social media post on Monday.
India’s players, including skipper Suryakumar Yadav, declined to shake hands with their Pakistan counterparts before the match, with Yadav notably avoiding the greeting at the toss. After hitting a six to conclude the match, he and non-striker Shivam Dube exited directly to the dressing room.
Pakistan’s captain, Salman Agha, did not participate in the post-match presentation. The PCB submitted a formal complaint to the Asian Cricket Council regarding the Indian players’ actions. “Team manager Naveed Cheema lodged a strong protest against the Indian players’ behavior of not shaking hands. It was deemed unsporting and against the spirit of the game. As a protest, we did not send our captain to the post-match ceremony,” the PCB statement conveyed, as reported by PTI.
