The ICC has considered rejecting PCB’s demand to replace the India vs Pakistan Match referee, Andy Pycroft. He is expected to continue in the Asia Cup, as the international body has cited that he had a very limited role in the handshake fiasco.
The strained relationship between India and Pakistan was evident on the cricket field when the two archrivals clashed against each other in the Asia Cup match. India might have won the match with ease, but their distant behaviour towards the Pakistani players has led to widespread outrage.
PCB filed a complaint against the Match referee after the handshake controversy
The Pakistan Cricket Board had filed a formal complaint against the match referee for not having informed them of the changed protocols for the game. According to his directions to the two skippers, they ignored an initial handshake during the toss.
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But Andy Pycroft had forgotten to mention to the Pakistani skipper, Salman Agha, that such impositions would be laid throughout the match. This led the skipper and his players to be left baffled when Indian players left the field without a formal handshake after the end of the chase.
Even the coach who walked to the Indian dressing room for a gesture found it locked and was shocked by such indifference.
ICC rejects PCB’s plea for the replacement of Andy Pycroft
As per the latest reports from Cricbuzz, the ICC has considered rejecting PCB’s plea for replacing Match referee Andy Pycroft. They have mentioned that he is not found to have had much of a role in the handshake fiasco that took place at the Dubai International Stadium.
BREAKING: ICC ALL SET TO REJECT PCB DEMAND TO RECALL MATCH REFEREE FROM ASIA CUP. ANDY PYCROFT IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE IN ASIA CUP. IT IS NOT UPT TO PCB WHICH THREATENED TO PULL OUT OF ITS SEPT 17 GAME AGAINST UAE IF THE MATCH OFFICIAL IS NOT REPLACED. @cricbuzz @TheRealPCB
— Vijay Tagore (@vijaymirror) September 15, 2025
It would now depend on the Pakistan Cricket team if they would participate in the upcoming match against the UAE or keep their word and boycott the game in order to keep up with their integrity.
India Qualified to the Super-4: Pakistan or UAE to contest for second spot
After their win over Pakistan and the UAE defeating Oman comfortably, the Men in Blue have qualified for the Super-4 stage. They are the first team to have made it to the next level, while all other teams still await their matches.
Pakistan are still second on the points table from group A but would be able to qualify only if they win against the UAE in their final group-stage game. They defeated the UAE two times in the tri-series, which was held just before the Asia Cup.
UAE also have 2 points from 2 games and would be eyeing a spot in the Super-4, and if Pakistan withdraws, it could be a blessing for the unofficial hosts of the competition.
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