The International Cricket Council (ICC) has yet to respond to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) proposal to remove match referees during the Asia Cup 2025, but the governing body is unlikely to comply. After the contentious handshake incident during India vs. Pakistan in Dubai on September 14, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had asked for Andy Pycroft to be replaced on the referee panel.
According to sources, there aren’t enough reasons to support the PCB’s plea, and the ICC will likely respond shortly. The governing body’s general opinion, according to Cricbuzz, is that Pycroft was only partially responsible for the incident and that he just told the Pakistani captain to avoid the humiliation that would result from one captain not shaking hands with the other at the toss.
Officials say that granting the PCB’s request would set a bad precedent, allowing a member board to influence match official appointments without compelling evidence. Indian players did not shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts following the Asia Cup league game on September 14 at the Dubai International Stadium, which sparked the issue.
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) handbook states that players do not have to shake hands before or after games. The ICC will likely highlight this in its official response to the PCB. Sources report that Pakistan has vowed to boycott their forthcoming match against the United Arab Emirates on September 17 if the ICC does not fulfill their demand, intensifying the situation. Interestingly, the ICC has assigned Pycroft to officiate that match.
The Asia Cup is now more uncertain due to the deadlock, although the ICC’s prevailing position that match officials cannot be replaced at the request of a single member board without good reason is still in place.
“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 the Match Referee from the Asia Cup,” Naqvi said in a social media post.
PCB’s Handshake Demand Lacks Momentum; MCC Clarifies It’s Not Mandatory
However, Naqvi, who also serves as president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), has gained little support for his demand. Even though the ICC consults the local governing body—in this case, the ACC—when appointing match officials, it seems highly unlikely that the ICC will seriously consider his suggestion.
It is encouraging that the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which handles cricket regulations, has not been directly contacted by the PCB. Instead, the board has mentioned the matter under the pretext of the Spirit of Cricket, although it does not appear that the MCC has received an official notification.
The MCC’s Spirit of Cricket preamble clearly states that while shaking hands is a sign of respect, it is not mandatory. Even though the preamble highlights this practice, the laws of cricket do not require players to show politeness to umpires or opponents regardless of the match result.
The following are some points in Spirit of Cricket chapter:
- Respect is central to the Spirit of Cricket.
- Respect your captain, team-mates, opponents and the authority of the umpires.
- Play hard and play fair.
- Accept the umpire’s decision.
- Create a positive atmosphere by your own conduct, and encourage others to do likewise.
- Show self-discipline, even when things go against you.
- Congratulate the opposition on their successes, and enjoy those of your own team.
- Thank the officials and your opposition at the end of the match, whatever the result.
- Cricket is an exciting game that encourages leadership, friendship and teamwork, which brings together people from different nationalities, cultures and religions, especially when played within the Spirit of Cricket.
