ICC set to tear apart PCB and Pakistan Cricket, Asia Cup BOYCOTT drama digs the grave

In a recent development, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has issued a warning to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for "violating multiple tournament rules" in the Asia Cup 2025. The ICC sent an email to the PCB regarding the filming of restricted areas before their Asia Cup clash with the UAE.

The match between Pakistan and the UAE was delayed by more than an hour at the Dubai International Stadium on September 17. Notably, the team refused to take the field in response to the ICC’s decision to retain match referee Andy Pycroft despite multiple requests from the PCB for his removal.

PCB Shared Muted Video with Match Referee Andy Pycroft on Social Media

Pakistan sent a letter to the ICC over the handshake controversy during their Asia Cup clash against India in Dubai. The PCB blamed match referee Andy Pycroft and demanded his removal from the referee panel, even threatening to withdraw from the tournament.

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After the ICC rejected the request, the PCB wrote another letter on the eve of their game against the UAE. On match day, players were instructed to remain at the hotel while the PCB held a lengthy meeting involving chairman Mohsin Naqvi and former chiefs Najam Sethi and Ramiz Raja.

The PCB later posted on social media that Pycroft had apologized to their camp. They also shared a video on X showing the Zimbabwean official in conversation with captain Salman Ali Agha, manager Naved Akram Cheema, and coach Mike Hesson in the referee’s room, but the audio was muted.

ICC Set to Take Strict Action Against PCB for ‘Violating Laws’ in Asia Cup

The ICC wrote the email to the PCB for breaching regulations inside the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA). CEO Sanjog Gupta described the repeated filming in restricted zones as serious misconduct and a violation of tournament protocol.

“The ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta has written to the PCB stating that the board has been guilty of repeated PMOA violations on match day. PCB is in receipt of the email," a tournament source told PTI.

The PCB has not yet answered an email sent on September 17, the day their match was delayed by an hour. After receiving another strong warning, it is unclear how the PCB will respond.

India Set to Face Pakistan in Super Four Stage on September 21

The Super Four stage of the Asia Cup 2025 will begin on Saturday with a match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Sri Lanka advanced unbeaten from Group B after eliminating Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi, while Bangladesh also qualified from the same group.

India and Pakistan secured their spots from Group A. The Men in Blue will face Pakistan on September 21 in Dubai. India, who won the earlier clash against Pakistan, remain undefeated ahead of their final group match against Oman.

Suryakumar Yadav's side will face Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the next matches. The stage will conclude with India taking on Sri Lanka on September 26, also in Dubai. The top two sides at the end of this round will meet in the final on September 28 in Dubai.

Also read: ACC convenes Emergency AGM after Asia Cup 2025 fiasco, BCCI's Candidate block on Agenda