Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 journey could be coming to an abrupt end as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly rejected the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from the tournament, further intensifying tensions.
According to media reports, the ICC has informed the PCB through an official letter that Pycroft would continue his role despite the PCB accusing Pycroft of violating the ICC Code of Conduct and the Spirit of Cricket during Pakistan’s group-stage clash against India on September 14.
While the ICC has confirmed that Pycroft will officiate Pakistan’s next game against the UAE, it stressed that match officials were appointed jointly with the ACC, and Pycroft’s position was not under review.
Earlier, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), had publicly demanded Pycroft’s removal.
An official letter on Monday had also made it clear that Pakistan would not play its remaining matches at the Asia Cup if the match referee was not removed for his biased conduct – telling Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha to not shake hands with Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav.
While reports had quoted sources as saying Pycroft was acting on instructions from the Indian government, the ICC had clarified that he was only following ACC instructions against handshake at the toss.
Situation worsened after India’s victory when cricketers Yadav and Shivam Dube walked off without greeting Pakistan players. Pakistan’s captain Agha and coach Mike Hesson later went to India’s dressing room, but the Indian side kept the door shut.
If Pakistan sticks to its decision of boycotting the tournament, the UAE will progress from Group A as both teams are currently tied on two points after table-topper India.
Meanwhile, the PCB has also acted beyond the Asia Cup. On While the board has written to the ICC requesting that Pycroft not be assigned to Pakistan’s home series against South Africa in October, the Ministry of Interior has also banned Pycroft from entering Pakistan, strengthening the PCB’s case for his replacement in the series.