WEB DESK: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is anticipated to reject the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) plea to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from the Asia Cup 2025 officiating panel.
The controversy arose after PCB lodged a formal complaint following India’s players refusing to shake hands with Pakistan at Dubai International Stadium. The PCB accused Pycroft of mishandling the situation and undermining the spirit of cricket.
Sources indicated that ICC officials clarified that Pycroft had advised both team captains to avoid handshakes amid heightened political tensions and the recent trauma in India caused by the Pahalgam terror attack in April. However, internal assessments by the ICC reportedly found “no significant misconduct” on Pycroft’s part. His involvement in the incident was described as “minimal and non-interfering.”
This suggests that the PCB’s appeal for disciplinary measures or a replacement for Pycroft is unlikely to succeed, which could further deepen the rift between Pakistan’s cricket board and the ICC.
The incident originated during India’s seven-wicket victory over Pakistan on September 14, where Indian players bypassed the traditional handshake and headed directly to their dressing room. The Indian team’s actions were seen as a gesture of solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam attack. Pakistan’s team management condemned the move as “unsporting,” and captain Salman Ali Agha was not allowed to participate in the post-match ceremony as a protest. Subsequently, the PCB demanded accountability from Pycroft and formally communicated their concerns to the ICC.
Earlier, the BCCI defended its players’ decision not to shake hands, emphasizing that such gestures are based on goodwill rather than any formal rule. A senior BCCI official explained to Indian media that “shaking hands is a customary gesture, not a legal obligation or a requirement mandated by the ICC. There is no rule specifying it must be done.”
The official added, “If there is no legal obligation, then the Indian team is not compelled to shake hands with opponents with whom relations are strained,” emphasizing that the decision was influenced by the broader context of national security and recent events.
The controversy intensified after India’s victory over Pakistan, with Indian players choosing not to engage in customary greetings, citing the ongoing security concerns and the recent terror attack blamed on Pakistan. Reports indicate that team management, including head coach Gautam Gambhir and senior players, had pre-game discussions and collectively decided against handshakes to express solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam incident—an event they viewed as more than just a sporting rivalry.
