ICC set to reject PCB's demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is yet to issue an official response to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) request for the removal of match referee during the Asia Cup 2025, but the governing body is unlikely to accede to the demand. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had sought the replacement of Andy Pycroft from the referee panel following the controversial handshake episode during India and Pakistan's clash in Dubai on September 14.

Sources suggest there are insufficient grounds to justify the PCB’s request, and an ICC response is expected soon. According to Cricbuzz, the prevailing view within the governing body is that Pycroft played only a minimal role in the controversy, merely conveying a message to the Pakistan captain to avoid the public embarrassment of one skipper refusing to shake hands with the other at the toss.

Officials believe agreeing to the PCB’s demand would set a poor precedent by allowing a member board to influence match official appointments without strong justification. The controversy stems from the Asia Cup league match on September 14 at the Dubai International Stadium, where Indian players did not shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts after the game.

According to the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) manual, handshakes before or after matches are not mandatory, a point the ICC is likely to emphasise in its formal response to the PCB. The situation has escalated as reports indicate Pakistan has threatened to boycott their upcoming match against the UAE on September 17 if their demand is not met. Notably, Pycroft is appointed as the match referee for that fixture.

The standoff adds uncertainty to the Asia Cup, though the ICC’s dominant stance remains that match officials cannot be changed at the insistence of a single member board without sufficient cause.

"The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup," Naqvi said in a social media post.

However, the demand from Naqvi, who also serves as the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), has not gained much traction. While the appointment of match officials is handled by the ICC in consultation with the local governing body, in this case the ACC, it is considered highly unlikely that the ICC will give serious attention to the request.

Interestingly, the PCB has not reached out directly to the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodians of cricket’s laws. Instead, the board has raised the issue under the banner of the ‘Spirit of Cricket,’ but there appears to have been no formal communication with the MCC on the matter.

The MCC’s Spirit of Cricket preamble makes it clear that while handshakes are encouraged as a sign of respect, they are not mandatory. The preamble emphasises the importance of showing courtesy to officials and opponents regardless of the result, but it does not form part of cricket’s binding laws.

The following are some points in Spirit of Cricket chapter:

• Respect is central to the Spirit of Cricket.
• Respect your captain, team-mates, opponents and the authority of the umpires.
• Play hard and play fair.
• Accept the umpire's decision.
• Create a positive atmosphere by your own conduct, and encourage others to do likewise.
• Show self-discipline, even when things go against you.
• Congratulate the opposition on their successes, and enjoy those of your own team.
• Thank the officials and your opposition at the end of the match, whatever the result.
• Cricket is an exciting game that encourages leadership, friendship and teamwork, which brings together people from different nationalities, cultures and religions, especially when played within the Spirit of Cricket.