Asia Cup 2025: ICC rejects PCB's demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft for handshake row

Published - 16 Sept 2025, 23:16 IST | Updated - 16 Sept 2025, 23:28 IST

Pakistan Cricket Board asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to remove veteran match referee Andy Pycroft following their recent Asia Cup 2025 clash against India in Dubai. The ICC formally rejected that demand, following Indian players declining the customary handshakes at the toss and after the match.

After the Men in Blue beat Pakistan in Dubai, and several Indian players, including captain Suryakumar Yadav, did not shake hands with Pakistan’s players either at the toss or after the result, with Suryakumar and Shivam Dube walking straight to the dressing room while Pakistan players waited outside for the customary exchange. Pakistan’s team manager subsequently complained to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), alleging that Pycroft had told Pakistan’s captain to avoid a handshake at the toss, a claim that prompted the PCB to escalate the matter to the ICC.

In a letter to the ICC, the PCB accused Pycroft of misconduct of the highest order, saying the match referee failed in his duty to promote respect and sportsmanship and that his conduct breached Article 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Match Officials, an allegation that brought disrepute to the game. The letter stated that the referee’s instructions, as related to Pakistan’s camp, had produced a negative atmosphere and directly contradicted the expectation that match officials help create a positive, respectful environment between competing teams. The PCB framed the issue as serious enough to warrant immediate action.

“It is alarming to note that an ICC-appointed and supposedly neutral match referee opted to indulge in conduct, which clearly violates the Spirit of Cricket and MCC Laws. The match referee failed to discharge his responsibility: to ensure that respect was extended and maintained amongst the captains as well as between the two competing sides; and to create a positive atmosphere by his conduct and encourage the captains and participating teams to do likewise. In fact, the Match Referee’s instructions to the two team captains were entirely directed towards achieving the opposite result. This misconduct violates Article 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Match Officials, which specifically makes it an offence for the Match Referee to conduct himself in a manner that is contrary to the spirit of game and violates the MCC Laws. Given the gravity, political nature/background, and far-reaching consequences and repercussions, the misconduct has also caused disrepute to the game," the letter read as quoted by Hindustan Times.

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Meanwhile, the ICC has said the referee did not instigate the handshake snub and that he was relaying guidance from ACC officials on the ground, not acting on behalf of one team, effectively rejecting Pakistan’s neutrality complaint. Pycroft remains scheduled to oversee Pakistan’s upcoming fixture against the UAE, a situation that prompted reports Pakistan might consider boycotting that match if the official stands. The PCB has publicly said it had not received formal communication from the ICC and is reportedly consulting further before deciding next steps.