ICC flags PCB for protocol breach over ‘apology’ video: what happened and why it matters

The ICC has told the Pakistan Cricket Board that filming its closed‑door meeting with match referee Andy Pycroft broke tournament rules. The video, recorded inside the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) before Pakistan’s game against the UAE, was posted online without audio and presented as proof that Pycroft had apologised. The ICC says phones and filming are not allowed in that zone and has objected to both the recording and the way it was used.

The meeting that sparked a new row

Before Pakistan’s match against the UAE, PCB officials met Pycroft in Dubai to discuss the “handshake” controversy from the India–Pakistan game on September 14. Pakistan had earlier demanded Pycroft’s removal; the ICC refused. Pakistan delayed leaving their hotel, and the match began an hour late after both sides agreed to a quick meeting at the ground. During the meeting, Pycroft explained he had only passed on a last‑minute instruction that there would be no handshake and expressed regret over the miscommunication.

Why the video is a problem

The ICC has strict rules in the PMOA: no mobile phones and no filming during official interactions. According to the ICC, the PCB was told this when their media manager tried to record. Pakistan insisted, saying they would not play the match otherwise. A compromise allowed the media manager to record video without audio. Later, the PCB posted a muted clip, framing it as Pycroft’s apology. The ICC has pushed back, saying it was regret for miscommunication, not an apology— and that filming in the PMOA breached protocol.

What the ICC told the PCB

In a formal note, the ICC said there were “multiple violations” of PMOA rules. It raised concerns about:

• Bringing a phone into a restricted zone.

• Filming an official meeting despite prior warnings.

• Sharing the video publicly without alignment on usage.
  The ICC reiterated that its earlier review found no misconduct by Pycroft over the no‑handshake episode, and that switching match officials at a team’s request would set a poor precedent.

How this links to ‘handshake‑gate’

This is the latest chapter in a tense week. India did not shake hands with Pakistan at the toss, following a late instruction passed via Pycroft. Pakistan blamed the referee, asked for his removal, then threatened to skip the UAE match. The pre‑match meeting and the muted video were part of that stand‑off. The ICC maintains the referee acted within his role under extreme time pressure.

What it means now

• The ICC has formally objected to the video and the protocol breaches.

• Pakistan proceeded with the UAE match after the meeting, but scrutiny remains high.

• Future pre‑match and post‑match procedures will likely be tighter: no phones in PMOA, no filming, and clearer guidance on how sensitive communications are handled.

The bottom line

A heated week around a missing handshake has grown into a rules dispute. The ICC says the PCB crossed lines by filming and sharing a closed‑door conversation. The referee stays cleared; the protocols get stricter. The focus now should return to cricket—with less room for off‑field drama and more care around how meetings and messages are handled.