There was a large debate about Andy Pycroft, the ICC match referee, during the Asia Cup 2025, which nearly hampered the tournament severely. After the India-Pakistan handshake act between both country captains, it was removed from the highly-anticipated match on September 14, and the whole event began to get out of hand.
The “Four-Minute” Notice and Andy Pycroft’s Role
The scandal broke only four minutes before the September 14, 2025, match between India and Pakistan was about to be tossed. Andy Pycroft, the ICC match referee of the game, was given last-minute directions by the ACC venue manager.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), following an okay from the Indian government, had ordered that there must not be a handshake between the two captains, India’s Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan’s Salman Agha.
Pycroft, having got these orders at such short notice, was in a tricky situation. Assuming he was just a messenger, Pycroft delivered the message to Agha, warning him to stay away from Yadav and not extend a hand of greeting. His only thought was to avoid any possible embarrassment were Agha to have put out his hand and then got nothing but a snub in return.
The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Response
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) immediately complained about the incident, accusing Pycroft of violating the spirit of cricket and crossing ICC codes of conduct. In their formal complaint lodged with the ICC, the PCB claimed that Pycroft’s behavior was degrading the tradition of respect between captains and the teams.
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The PCB also asked why Pycroft did not approach the ICC before making a decision and insisted that his inability to adhere to the ethos of cricket was an important issue. They called for his dismissal immediately from the tournament.
The ICC’s Investigation and Conclusion
Upon the complaint by the PCB, the International Cricket Council (ICC) launched an inquiry into the incident. Upon hearing from Pycroft, other officials present during the tournament, and assessing the matter, the ICC decided that Pycroft acted within his authority as a match official.
They explained that Pycroft was merely carrying out the instruction he had been given and acting responsibly under the circumstances.
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The ICC formal release stressed that the actual issue was not Pycroft’s conduct, but the action to withdraw from the handshake. The ICC also reiterated that a change in match officials at the behest of a participating country could be a perilous precedent. They defended Pycroft, confirming there was no conduct breach.
The Fallout: PCB’s Threat to Withdraw from the Asia Cup
The controversy mounted as the PCB, unhappy with the ICC’s reaction, threatened to withdraw from the 2025 Asia Cup. The PCB’s demand for Pycroft’s ouster was unwavering, with some officials claiming that their government told them to withdraw from the tournament if their demands were not fulfilled. The situation mounted to an intense level, causing Pakistan’s do-or-die match against the UAE to be delayed.
The PCB stand was also supported by a series of video conferences between ICC officials, PCB members, and the Emirates Cricket Board. After a lot of goings back and forth, a hurried meeting between Pycroft and the Pakistan team administration was arranged, mere hours before the rescheduled toss.
The Apology and Miscommunication
At the meeting, Pycroft explained his actions by saying he was merely relaying a message and even acted in the best interest of avoiding embarrassment.
While there was some regret on Pycroft’s part for the misunderstanding and miscommunication, the PCB would later contend he had apologized after someone who was privy to the issue stated that Pycroft’s response was simply an expression of regret, not a true apology.
The PCB issued a press release after the meeting, but the ICC was not said to be pleased with the PCB’s description of the event. The board also uploaded a video of the meeting, which was permitted only if no recording was done.
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ICC’s Last Word and Resumption of the Tournament
The ICC repeated that there was no breach of any code of conduct, and Pycroft acted reasonably given the circumstances. It was frustrating for the PCB but, eventually, the match between Pakistan and the UAE was played after a pause, and it appeared the issue had been resolved, although still tense.
Important Takeaways from the India-Pakistan Handshake Controversy
The miscommunication among the ACC, BCCI, and match officials was the cause of the confusion around the handshake sequence between India and Pakistan which sparked the controversy in the asia cup 2025
ICC’s Neutrality– Andy Pycroft will be expected to remain neutral, and this incident raised questions about the level of political/national intervention and influence in cricket matters in IND vs PAK.
Precedent and Protocol– The ICC stated that having match officials changed due to pressures of a political or national nature would set a terrible precedent for the future.
The Spirit of Cricket– The PCB complaint raised questions related to the “spirit of cricket,” specifically regarding respect and sportsmanship, and talked specifically about these ideas at high-profile events when teams representing high-profile countries such as India vs. Pakistan played.
Ultimately, though the ICC ruled in favor of Andy Pycroft, recognizing his professionalism, the storm over the India-Pakistan handshake fiasco remains a reminder of the fine line between sportsmanship, political backhanders, and the role of match officials. The 2025 Asia Cup, albeit with this loss, went ahead, but the impact of the fiasco can remain with us for some time yet.
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