ICC match referee Andy Pycroft conducted the Asia Cup 2025 match between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) despite concerns with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). In particular, the ICC dismissed the push of the Pakistan Cricket Board to remove Picroft by reducing the matches in the eight-team tournament.
PCB accused Pycroft of misconduct during the Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan in Dubai on 14 September. India captain Suryakumar Yadav refused to join hands with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha in the toss. The Indian team also refused to join hands with Pakistan players after the victory.
Pakistan faced UAE in Asia Cup despite threatening to boycott the Andy Picroft controversy
Pakistan played its Asia Cup clashes against the United Arab Emirates, as the ICC refused to change the match referee Andy Picroft after the ICC after threatening to boycott the match.
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On Wednesday, the PCB delayed an hour in an hour, seeking the removal of Pycroft. However, the ICC dismissed the PCB request and retained the pikeroft as a referee.
In particular, the PCB issued a statement attempting to control the damage that Pycroft had apologized for his conduct during the dispute.
PCB president Mohsin Naqvi held a long conversation with former chief Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi whether to proceed with boycott. If they had moved forward, Pakistan would have ended with the tournament.
Pakistan wants to remove Andy Picroft from its game in Asia Cup 2025
According to Revsports journalist Rohit Jugglan, Pakistan still wants to remove Andy Pycroft from its matches. He said that PCB President Mohsin Naqvi wants to stop any political message during the tournament, and the board is preparing to pursue the case against Pycroft.
“Some more drama 1 – Pakistan still wants to remove Andy Picroft from its game 2 – Mohsin Naqvi does not want any political message in this tournament 3 – they are preparing more evidence to investigate the Andy Picroft case to start the case of Andy Picroft,” Rot wrote on X (Earlier known as Twitter).
Waiting for some more drama
1 – Pakistan still wants to remove Andy Picroft from its game
2 – Mohsin Naqvi does not want any political message in this tournament
3 – They are preparing more evidence for another level investigation to start Case vs. Picroft pic.twitter.com/lt1any2elw– Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) September 18, 2025
Suryakumar Yadav dedicated seven wickets to the Indian armed forces
Suryakumar Yadav dedicated a seven -wicket win to the armed forces and expressed solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.
After the match, India’s players refused to exchange post-game handshakes. He also closed the door of his dressing room when the Pakistan team tried to congratulate him. India is expected to maintain the same stance when both sides again collide in the Super 4S.
Meanwhile, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi came up with criticisms, stating that he forgot his responsibility as the head of the Asian Cricket Council, who was overseeing the tournament.
Many people feel that Pakistan should focus on improving on-field performance rather than focusing on the incident of handshake.
India and Pakistan have gone ahead with Group A on the Super Four Stage of the tournament, while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are competing for a place from Group B.
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