ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has taken strong exception to the conduct of the match referee during the clash against India and warned it would not play further Asia Cup fixtures if the referee is not replaced.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sources told Geo News it had conveyed its stance to the International Cricket Council (ICC), making it clear that Pakistan would boycott the remaining Asia Cup matches unless the referee was changed.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the development, stating that the Board had formally lodged a complaint with the ICC. “The match referee acted against the spirit of cricket, and we have raised our concerns,” he said in a statement.
The PCB formally lodged a complaint with the ICC against the controversial involvement of Andy Pycroft as match referee in the Asia Cup match between Pakistan and India, accusing him of violations of the ICC Code of Conduct and breaches of the MCC’s ‘spirit of cricket’.
However, despite holding the influential position of chairing the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has thus far refrained from initiating disciplinary proceedings from the ACC platform against those allegedly responsible for what had been described as a “shameful episode” during Sunday night’s high-voltage Pakistan-India clash.
In a strongly worded communication made public through social media, Naqvi confirmed that the PCB has demanded Match-Referee Pycroft’s immediate removal from officiating duties in the tournament.
“The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the match referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of Match Referee (Andy Pycroft) from the Asia Cup,” Naqvi wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
This message followed an earlier post in which Naqvi expressed his dismay at what he termed an attempt to inject politics into sport. “Utterly disappointed to witness the lack of sportsmanship today. Dragging politics into the game goes against the very spirit of sports. Let’s hope future victories are celebrated by all teams with grace,” he stated.
By Monday evening, his tone had sharpened further: “There is nothing more important to me than the honour and prestige of my country.” The controversy stems from a series of heated incidents involving Indian players and officials during the post-match proceedings, including what observers called “unsportsmanlike conduct” during the handshake and award ceremony. Matters were further inflamed by the suspension of PCB’s Director of International Cricket, Usman Wahla, which insiders claim was directly linked to the unfolding drama. Wahla was blamed for making unnecessary delay to write a letter to the ICC.
Yet, while Pakistan has moved swiftly through the ICC channel, many in cricketing circles have raised eyebrows at the ACC’s silence. Naqvi, despite being both PCB and ACC chairman, has yet to exercise the ACC’s authority over an event that falls squarely under its jurisdiction.
Cricket experts argue that the ACC is empowered to act decisively. “Since it is an ACC event, the Chairman has every right to establish a disciplinary committee and sanction individuals who disgraced the occasion. The fate of Andy Pycroft may rest with the ICC, but the Indian captain’s political gestures and the behaviour of officials during the ceremony fall within the ACC’s ambit,” remarked a former Pakistan Test cricketer.
The veteran added that relying solely on ICC intervention might prove futile: “The ICC’s structures are heavily influenced by India. At best, they may remove Pycroft from Pakistan’s fixtures, such as the upcoming match against UAE. But what if his replacement repeats the same conduct? This is why the ACC must assert itself because the Asia Cup is its tournament, not ICC’s.”
With Pakistan and India likely to clash again in the Super Four stage next Sunday, the storm shows no signs of abating. How the ACC and ICC respond in the coming days could shape not only the Asia Cup’s credibility but also the wider perception of fairness in global cricket governance.
Meanwhile, veteran cricket broadcaster Ashis Ray said in a statement said it is most unfortunate that the T20 match between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup was not played in the spirit of cricket.
He said, “As all non-white teams did during the apartheid era, they did not participate against South Africa. If a side’s government doesn’t want it to play against a particular country, they have no choice other than to abide by such a ruling. But if it does participate in a competition, it must abide by the spirit of the game.
“It is sad that Indian cricketers were ordered to behave unsportingly by Indian cricket authorities and their management under a diktat from the Indian government. It is hypocrisy to play a match and not shake hands with the opposition. I call upon cricket boards of England and Australia and the Marylebone Cricket Club to take an initiative to stop the bad blood on the cricket field.”development, stating that the Board had formally lodged a complaint with the ICC. “The match referee acted against the spirit of cricket, and we have raised our concerns,” he said in a statement.
The PCB formally lodged a complaint with the ICC against the controversial involvement of Andy Pycroft as match referee in the Asia Cup match between Pakistan and India, accusing him of violations of the ICC Code of Conduct and breaches of the MCC’s ‘spirit of cricket’.
However, despite holding the influential position of chairing the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has thus far refrained from initiating disciplinary proceedings from the ACC platform against those allegedly responsible for what had been described as a “shameful episode” during Sunday night’s high-voltage Pakistan-India clash.
In a strongly worded communication made public through social media, Naqvi confirmed that the PCB has demanded Match-Referee Pycroft’s immediate removal from officiating duties in the tournament.
“The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the match referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of Match Referee (Andy Pycroft) from the Asia Cup,” Naqvi wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
This message followed an earlier post in which Naqvi expressed his dismay at what he termed an attempt to inject politics into sport.
“Utterly disappointed to witness the lack of sportsmanship today. Dragging politics into the game goes against the very spirit of sports. Let’s hope future victories are celebrated by all teams with grace,” he stated.
By Monday evening, his tone had sharpened further: “There is nothing more important to me than the honour and prestige of my country.” The controversy stems from a series of heated incidents involving Indian players and officials during the post-match proceedings, including what observers called “unsportsmanlike conduct” during the handshake and award ceremony. Matters were further inflamed by the suspension of PCB’s Director of International Cricket, Usman Wahla, which insiders claim was directly linked to the unfolding drama. Wahla was blamed for making unnecessary delay to write a letter to the ICC.
Yet, while Pakistan has moved swiftly through the ICC channel, many in cricketing circles have raised eyebrows at the ACC’s silence. Naqvi, despite being both PCB and ACC chairman, has yet to exercise the ACC’s authority over an event that falls squarely under its jurisdiction.
Cricket experts argue that the ACC is empowered to act decisively. “Since it is an ACC event, the Chairman has every right to establish a disciplinary committee and sanction individuals who disgraced the occasion. The fate of Andy Pycroft may rest with the ICC, but the Indian captain’s political gestures and the behaviour of officials during the ceremony fall within the ACC’s ambit,” remarked a former Pakistan Test cricketer.
The veteran added that relying solely on ICC intervention might prove futile: “The ICC’s structures are heavily influenced by India. At best, they may remove Pycroft from Pakistan’s fixtures, such as the upcoming match against UAE. But what if his replacement repeats the same conduct? This is why the ACC must assert itself because the Asia Cup is its tournament, not ICC’s.”
With Pakistan and India likely to clash again in the Super Four stage next Sunday, the storm shows no signs of abating. How the ACC and ICC respond in the coming days could shape not only the Asia Cup’s credibility but also the wider perception of fairness in global cricket governance.
Meanwhile, veteran cricket broadcaster Ashis Ray said in a statement said it is most unfortunate that the T20 match between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup was not played in the spirit of cricket.
He said, “As all non-white teams did during the apartheid era, they did not participate against South Africa. If a side’s government doesn’t want it to play against a particular country, they have no choice other than to abide by such a ruling. But if it does participate in a competition, it must abide by the spirit of the game.
“It is sad that Indian cricketers were ordered to behave unsportingly by Indian cricket authorities and their management under a diktat from the Indian government. It is hypocrisy to play a match and not shake hands with the opposition. I call upon cricket boards of England and Australia and the Marylebone Cricket Club to take an initiative to stop the bad blood on the cricket field.”