Asia Cup 2025: PCB rejects ICC's allegations of PMOA breach protocol

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has responded strongly against the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) claims of misconduct and multiple breaches of the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) protocol during the Asia Cup 2025. The controversy stemmed from Pakistan’s clash with the UAE on September 17 in Dubai, which was delayed by an hour following tensions between the PCB and ICC.

The dispute originated when Pakistan insisted on recording a meeting between match referee Andy Pycroft and the team management ahead of the game. The meeting, arranged minutes before the toss, was meant to resolve the tensions from the India-Pakistan handshake row, where Pycroft was accused by the PCB of mishandling a situation involving captains Salman Ali Agha and Suryakumar Yadav.

ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta later sent an email to the PCB, noting that Pakistan’s media manager Naeem Gillani used a mobile phone in the PMOA area to film the discussion, an act explicitly prohibited under anti-corruption regulations. Gupta further mentioned that the PCB had misrepresented Pycroft’s comments by publicly claiming he had apologised, while he only expressed regret over a miscommunication. In its reply, the PCB dismissed the ICC’s accusations, insisting no protocols were breached.

"The team's media manager is part of the squad and has authorized access to the PMOA. His presence there is not a violation. ICC protocols include provisions that allow media managers to use cameras. If the SOP was not followed, the ICC should question the match referee on whether he reported the matter to the ACU official," the PCB wrote to the ICC.

The PCB also justified its actions by mentioning that Pakistan had initially refused to take the field unless its media manager was allowed into the meeting. Eventually, a compromise was reached, where Gillani was permitted to film the meeting without audio. The board argued this arrangement should not be construed as a violation.

However, for the ICC, the issue is more serious. The PMOA is regarded as one of the most secure zones in a cricket stadium, with strict restrictions on mobile phone use to prevent any risk of corruption. Even though media managers are permitted to carry their phones, they are not allowed to operate them inside this area. Gupta described the PCB’s actions as misconduct and stressed that Pycroft had acted appropriately, only relaying instructions from the Asian Cricket Council’s venue manager.