ICC to give big jolt to Pakistan

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is not expected to act on Pakistan’s request to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from the Asia Cup following the handshake controversy after India’s win. Sources suggest that the ICC rarely entertains such demands and is likely to stand by its appointed officials.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed its dissatisfaction with India’s refusal to shake hands with the Pakistani team after Sunday’s Asia Cup match, which has since turned into a diplomatic issue. The PCB claims that Pycroft intervened before the match, advising both captains to skip the customary handshake. On Monday, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that a formal complaint was lodged with the ICC, accusing Pycroft of breaching the Code of Conduct and the spirit of the game.

“The PCB has filed a complaint with the ICC, alleging that the Match Referee violated the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws concerning the Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has called for the immediate removal of the Match Referee from the tournament,” Naqvi stated on X.

India’s Skipper, Suryakumar Yadav, defended his team’s decision, explaining that it was a gesture for the families of those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack. However, his explanation has not satisfied the PCB, which initially raised the issue with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and then escalated it to the ICC.

In response, the PCB has threatened to withdraw from their next Group A match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) unless Pycroft is removed from the remainder of the tournament. The board argued that Pycroft’s involvement led to the controversy over the handshake, which occurred after India’s seven-wicket victory.

Pycroft is one of the most experienced match referees in the game, having been on the ICC Elite Panel since 2009. For the Asia Cup, the ICC appointed Pycroft alongside former West Indies captain Richie Richardson. The current Elite Panel also includes New Zealand’s Jeff Crowe, Sri Lanka’s Ranjan Madugalle, and India’s Javagal Srinath.