The International Cricket Council (ICC) has penalized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for multiple breaches of tournament protocols. The violations occurred prior to Pakistan’s final Group A Asia Cup 2025 match against the UAE in Dubai. The core of the controversy stemmed from the PCB’s demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft following a post-match handshake dispute in the previous Pakistan-India encounter. Despite the ICC’s denial, the PCB escalated the issue, even threatening to withdraw from the tournament. On the eve of the UAE game, the PCB persisted with its demands, leading to considerable disruptions. Pakistan players were instructed to remain in their hotel rooms as PCB officials, including current chairman Mohsin Naqvi (also ACC president), and former chiefs Najam Sethi and Ramiz Raja, held an extended meeting. This caused a delay of nearly an hour before the players were cleared to play. Before the toss, the PCB announced on social media that Pycroft had apologized. A video soon emerged, showing the Zimbabwean official speaking with captain Salman Ali Agha, manager Naved Akram Cheema, and coach Mike Hesson inside the referee’s room. The ICC subsequently emailed the PCB, citing misconduct and violations of Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) rules. The ICC pointed out that the PCB permitted its media manager, Naeem Gillani, to record the meeting, despite warnings against it. The ICC CEO, Sanjog Gupta, communicated to the PCB that the board was guilty of repeated PMOA violations on match day. The PCB included its media manager in the meeting, and he was initially refused entry by the ICC Anti-Corruption Manager for attempting to bring his mobile phone into the PMOA. The ICC, in a bid to prevent further escalation, agreed to a compromise where Pycroft met with Pakistan’s manager and captain before the toss. However, the PCB insisted on recording the meeting and subsequently posted the video online, which caused speculation. The ICC clarified that Pycroft had only expressed ‘regret over miscommunication,’ refuting the PCB’s claim of a formal apology.
