ICC set to reject PCB’s demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft: report

The International Cricket Council is expected to turn down Pakistan’s request to replace match referee Andy Pycroft for the rest of the Asia Cup. Pakistan had asked for his removal after India chose not to shake hands with their players following the group match. Reports say the ICC sees no strong reason to change an official mid-tournament and believes doing so would set a poor example.

What the ICC’s view means

According to reports, the ICC believes Pycroft did not play a major role in the “no handshake” situation. The understanding is that he passed along a ground-level instruction about the toss protocol and was not acting on behalf of any team. Match officials are appointed jointly with the event organiser, and changing one because a single board demands it could create a bad precedent. That is why the request is likely to be rejected.

Why Pakistan had asked for removal

Pakistan argued that the referee breached the spirit of cricket by telling their captain not to shake hands with India’s captain at the toss. They felt this influenced the tone of the match day and lodged a formal complaint. The controversy grew after India also skipped post-match handshakes and went straight to the dressing room, saying it was a tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and a show of support to the armed forces.

What could happen next

If the ICC confirms its decision, Pycroft would continue in his role for scheduled games. Reports claimed Pakistan had threatened to skip a group match if the referee stayed on, but doing so would risk elimination. With group standings tight, a forfeit would likely end their campaign. Practically, organisers will want clear, written match-day protocols to avoid repeat flashpoints, especially if India and Pakistan meet again.

The bigger picture

• Handshakes are a convention, not a law. Any action will follow event rules and code-of-conduct reviews.

• India’s stance is to complete fixtures while keeping gestures with Pakistan to a minimum during this tournament.

• Pakistan has pushed back through complaints and public statements, but removing an ICC-appointed official mid-event is rare.

For now, expect the tournament to proceed with the current officiating panel and clearer guidance issued to both teams on game-day protocols.