The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a strong warning to the International Cricket Council (ICC), stating that they could pull out of the 2025 Asia Cup if their concerns are ignored. The dispute stems from the post-match controversy between India and Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday, where players from both sides did not shake hands. The issue intensified on Monday when PCB escalated its protest, not only against India but also targeting the match referee Andy Pycroft. The board has demanded his immediate removal from the tournament’s referee panel, accusing him of siding with one team and violating the spirit of cricket.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), announced on social media that a formal complaint had been lodged with the ICC. According to PCB, Pycroft overstepped his role by instructing the two captains — India’s Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan’s Salam Agha not to shake hands at the toss, which the board believes was a clear breach of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws. The demand for Pycroft’s removal has been positioned as non-negotiable, with reports suggesting PCB could even boycott their next Asia Cup fixture against the UAE on September 17 if action is not taken. While Cricbuzz noted the information has not been independently verified, Pakistani outlets such as CricketPakistan.com have reported that the board is firm on its stance. The controversy comes amid speculation that the ACC is also weighing possible disciplinary measures against India for their role in the handshake standoff.
