Big blow for PCB; ICC officially shuts the door on Pakistan's face for Andy Pycroft removal

The ongoing Asia Cup 2025 has taken another dramatic turn as the International Cricket Council (ICC) officially rejected the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) demand to sack the match referee, Andy Pycroft. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly communicated their decision to the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The PCB alleged that Andy Pycroft instructed Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha to avoid shaking hands with Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav at the toss in Dubai. Pakistan felt this was unfair and believed the match referee was supporting India.

ICC rejects PCB's demand to sack match referee Andy Pycroft

The Pakistan Cricket Board was furious over the biased officiating that they felt and demanded the removal of Andy Pycroft from the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. However, the ICC has strongly shut down these allegations as the PCB threatened to boycott their game against the UAE.

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As reported by Cricbuzz, the ICC has made it clear to the PCB that the match officials on the ground had informed Andy Pycroft before the toss that the handshake would not take place, and he was just following the situation as it unfolded during the India vs Pakistan clash in Dubai.

The ICC stressed that Pycroft acted based on guidance from tournament officials and not due to any Indian influence. This decision is a huge blow to Pakistan’s stance, as the ICC has not only rejected their demand but also dismissed their claims of unfair treatment in the tournament.

PCB refuses to receive any official communication from ICC

The report reads, “The communication, purported to have been sent either by the ICC operations or legal department, is believed to have made it clear that the match referee had no role in the handshake controversy during the India-Pakistan match in Dubai on Sunday.

The ICC has reasoned it out, saying the ACC officials on the ground are understood to have conveyed this to Pycroft, who, in turn, relayed it to Salman Agha.”

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Interestingly, the Pakistan Cricket Board reportedly confirmed that they have not received any official communication from the ICC regarding the matter.

This puts the future of the Pakistan-UAE match in uncertainty, as the PCB had warned that they will refuse to play if Pycroft is not replaced for their final Asia Cup 2025 clash with the UAE.

Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 Scenario

Meanwhile, the Asia Cup 2025 is already packed with drama. India and Sri Lanka have secured their Super Four spots, while Oman and Hong Kong are eliminated. India advanced to the next stage thanks to their back-to-back wins over the UAE and Pakistan, while Sri Lanka qualified with a four-wicket victory over Hong Kong and a six-wicket win over Bangladesh.

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Now, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the UAE, and Bangladesh are fighting for the final two spots in the Super Four stage. Bangladesh must beat Afghanistan to stay alive, but their fate also depends on Afghanistan’s game against Sri Lanka and net run rate calculations.

On the other hand, Pakistan and the UAE face a straight knockout; as the winner of their group match reaches the Super Four, the loser will be eliminated. If the match ends without a result, Pakistan will advance on net run rate, so UAE will have to win that match to stay alive in the Asia Cup 2025.