LAHORE (Pakistan Post Canada) – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formally lodged a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC), calling for the immediate removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 after a controversial incident involving a handshake snub during the Pakistan–India clash.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that the complaint was filed over Pycroft’s alleged violations of the ICC Code of Conduct and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Laws related to the Spirit of Cricket.
“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 stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The controversy stems from the pre-match toss ceremony, where Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha refrained from the customary handshake. According to PCB officials, this was done under the instructions of the match referee, which they argue directly undermines cricket’s long-standing traditions of sportsmanship.
The PCB maintains that such directives are “contrary to the Spirit of Cricket” and has urged the ICC to take swift action.
