PCB again writes to ICC after 1st humiliation, this time demands..
Published - 17 Sep 2025, 12:25 PM | Updated - 17 Sep 2025, 11:34 PM

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has written another letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) amid the handshake controversy in the India-Pakistan match in the Asia Cup 2025. Notably, the ICC had rejected the PCB’s demand to remove Andy Pycroft from the panel of match referees for the tournament.
Indian players refused to shake hands with Pakistan after their victory at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, September 16. Team India captain Suryakumar Yadav defended the gesture, adding that they wanted to show solidarity with the families of the 26 civilians killed in the Pahalgam terror attack.
PCB Angered by India’s Refusal to Shake Hands after Asia Cup 2025 Match
Pakistan was angered by India’s refusal to shake hands after the match. Pakistan team manager Naved Cheema filed a complaint with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), led by PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, alleging that match referee Andy Pycroft had instructed both captains not to shake hands during the toss.
The PCB then approached the ICC and threatened to pull out of the tournament if Pycroft was not removed from the panel of referees. However, the ICC reportedly rejected the demand.
Mohsin Naqvi later confirmed that a formal complaint had been lodged with the ICC. Naqvi demanded the removal of the match referee from the Asia Cup.
Andy Pycroft Accused of Breaching the Spirit of Cricket and ICC Code of Conduct
The Pakistan board filed a complaint with ICC general manager Wasim Khan, accusing match referee Andy Pycroft of violating the Spirit of Cricket and the ICC Code of Conduct during the India-Pakistan match.
After the incident, Pakistan team manager Naveed Akram Cheema reportedly sought clarification from tournament director Andrew Russell. Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson called the situation “disappointing,” and captain Salman Agha skipped the post-match presentation.
Pycroft, one of two match referees at the Asia Cup alongside Richie Richardson, is set to officiate two more group stage matches, including Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong and Pakistan vs UAE in Dubai. The ICC has not released an official statement.
Pakistan to Play in Asia Cup 2025, Sends Another Letter to ICC - Report
The Pakistan Cricket Board has not officially withdrawn from the Asia Cup 2025. The team will continue its campaign, with a group-stage match against the UAE on Wednesday, determining whether it advances to the Super Four stage. A win could set up another clash with India on September 21.
According to RevSportz, the Pakistan Cricket Board has sent another formal letter to the ICC regarding ongoing concerns, though the details have not been disclosed.
"Another letter to ICC by PCB - sources," Rohit Juglan wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Another letter to ICC by PCB - sources
— Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) September 17, 2025
India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will take on Oman in their final group stage match in the Asia Cup 2025 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday, September 19.
Also read: Andy Pycroft suffers Pakistan's wrath in Asia Cup 2025; removed
Tagged:
Pakistan National Cricket Team UAE National Cricket Team Asia Cup ICC PCB Pakistan vs UAE UAE vs Pakistan Salman Ali AghaAbout the Author

Sai Vaitla is an author at Cricketaddictor and he has been working since September 2022. Sai Vaitla... Read more