ICC rejects Pakistan's demand to remove referee in Asia Cup handshake row

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has firmly rejected the Pakistan Cricket Board's demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, escalating a post-match handshake controversy that has threatened the tournament's continuity. The dispute stems from India's seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in Dubai on 14 September, where Indian players skipped the traditional handshake line, dedicating their win to victims of a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi accused Pycroft of bias for allegedly advising Pakistan's captain against pursuing the gesture, prompting threats of a boycott if the Zimbabwean official was not sacked.

In a late-night communication on 15 September, the ICC clarified that handshakes are a "voluntary goodwill gesture" rather than a mandatory rule, leaving Pakistan to weigh participation in their next match against the UAE or risk sanctions for withdrawal.

With the Asia Cup's hybrid format already strained by geopolitical tensions, this row highlights the sport's vulnerability to off-field frictions between the arch-rivals.

ICC dismisses PCB's plea

The ICC's rejection, conveyed directly to Naqvi, emphasised that removing Pycroft would set a "dangerous precedent" for officiating decisions influenced by player disputes. An ICC source told PTI that the reply was sent around midnight on 15 September, underscoring the body's commitment to neutrality.

Jay Shah, ICC chairman and BCCI secretary, played a pivotal role in the decision, with reports indicating he personally endorsed the stance amid PCB's formal complaint. Pycroft, a veteran on the elite panel since 2009, will continue officiating, including Pakistan's upcoming group-stage clash with the UAE on 17 September at the Dubai International Stadium.

The PCB had argued that Pycroft's intervention—reportedly telling captain Salman Ali Agha that the handshake might "provoke" the Indians—breached the ICC Code of Conduct and the spirit of cricket as outlined by the Marylebone Cricket Club. Naqvi's letter to ICC chief executive Geoff Allardice demanded immediate action, warning of non-participation if unmet.

However, the ICC countered that no formal breach occurred, as post-match courtesies fall under player discretion, not referee enforcement. ### Background to the handshake snub The incident unfolded after a rain-shortened match where India chased down a revised target of 185, thanks to half-centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Suryakumar Yadav.

As the teams lined up for presentations, Indian players offered only nods or waves, bypassing physical contact—a move amplified by Yadav's on-field dedication to the Pahalgam victims, where 12 civilians died in a Lashkar-e-Taiba attack on 10 September.

Security protocols, heightened post the tragedy, were cited by BCCI officials as a factor, though PCB sources dismissed this as pretextual. Television footage captured the awkwardness, with Pakistani opener Fakhar Zaman visibly taken aback. The snub echoed past Indo-Pak tensions, such as the 2019 World Cup standoff, but was uniquely tied to the fresh Kashmir outrage.

Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina later revealed on a podcast that players were "emotionally charged" and "not in the mood for pleasantries", underscoring the human element amid bilateral strains.

On social media, the moment went viral, with #HandshakeRow garnering millions of views. Indian users celebrated it as a "masterstroke", while Pakistani fans decried it as "unsportsmanlike", flooding X with memes mocking Pycroft as an "Indian ally".

Pakistan's boycott threats, internal fallout

Naqvi's aggressive response included suspending PCB's director of international cricket, Usman Wahla, for failing to escalate the issue promptly, a move seen as scapegoating amid domestic pressure. The board convened an emergency meeting on 16 September, where sources indicated a boycott remains "unlikely" but not off the table—potentially costing Pakistan points and fines under ICC regulations. Withdrawal could forfeit their semi-final hopes, handing advantages to co-hosts Sri Lanka and the UAE.

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram urged restraint on X, tweeting that "cricket should rise above politics", but hardliners within the PCB pushed for defiance.

Naqvi, a close ally of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, faces a balancing act: appeasing nationalist sentiments without derailing the $50 million tournament's revenues, in which Pakistan holds a 20% stake.

Indian reactions have been muted but supportive of the ICC. BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla stated that "respect is earned, not demanded", while coach Gautam Gambhir focused on preparations for the Nepal match. Shah's involvement drew applause from fans, with posts hailing him for "standing firm".

Broader implications for Asia Cup 

The row risks overshadowing the tournament's competitive edge, with India leading Group A on net run rate and Pakistan second. A boycott would disrupt the schedule, echoing the 2008 Asia Cup relocation due to security fears. The Asian Cricket Council has scheduled a virtual meeting for 17 September to discuss, perhaps to introduce guidelines for post-match protocols in high-pressure fixtures. 

Experts warn this could strain future Indo-Pak engagements, including the 2026 Champions Trophy hosted by Pakistan. The ICC's stance reinforces its post-2023 reforms on conduct, but critics argue it exposes governance gaps in hybrid events.

As teams train at the ICC Academy today, eyes are on Salman Agha's pre-match comments—will Pakistan play, or fold under the weight of symbolism? In cricket's cauldron of rivalry, the handshake—or its absence—remains a litmus test for reconciliation. With the ICC's line in the sand, Pakistan must now decide if pride trumps progress, lest the Asia Cup become another casualty of the divide.