ICC takes action against Pakistan, punishes PCB for multiple violations, including recording Andy Pycroft video

By Admin

19 Sep, 2025

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has pulled up the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for misconduct and repeated violations of tournament regulations during the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. The controversy erupted ahead of Pakistan’s final Group A clash against the UAE at the Dubai International Stadium, when the PCB protested against the world body’s rejection of their demand to suspend match referee Andy Pycroft.

The Background: Handshake Controversy

The conflict traces back to last Sunday’s high-voltage India vs Pakistan clash in Dubai, where a handshake controversy triggered outrage within the PCB. The board accused Pycroft of mishandling the incident and demanded his immediate removal from the match referee panel. PCB even threatened to pull out of the Asia Cup if their demand was not met.

When the ICC refused to comply, Pakistan sent another strongly worded letter on the eve of their fixture against the UAE, escalating tensions between the governing body and the board.

Match Delayed by PCB’s Protest

On Wednesday, as the standoff deepened, Pakistan players were instructed not to leave their hotel for the stadium, delaying the game’s start by an hour. PCB officials, including incumbent chairman Mohsin Naqvi (also the ACC chief), along with former chiefs Najam Sethi and Ramiz Raja, held an emergency meeting before eventually allowing the team to play.

The Pycroft Video Controversy

In a surprising move just before the game, PCB claimed that Andy Pycroft had apologised to their camp. Soon after, a video surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) showing Pycroft in discussion with captain Salman Ali Agha, team manager Naved Akram Cheema, and head coach Mike Hesson inside the referee’s room. The footage, which had muted audio, raised serious eyebrows about its origin and legality.

According to PTI, ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta wrote to the PCB citing “misconduct” and “multiple violations” of the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) protocol. The ICC confirmed that PCB had breached rules by allowing their media manager, Naeem Gillani, to film the meeting. Not only are media managers barred from attending such discussions, but carrying mobile phones into PMOA zones is also strictly prohibited.

PCB’s Defiance and ICC’s Concession

Despite repeated warnings, PCB insisted that their media manager attend the meeting and even threatened to pull out of the UAE clash when he was denied access. To avoid a no-show that could jeopardise the tournament, the ICC reluctantly agreed to let Pycroft meet Pakistan’s team captain and manager before the toss. However, PCB further violated rules by recording the conversation and releasing it online.

Sources clarified that Pycroft never issued an official apology but merely expressed regret over a miscommunication, directly contradicting PCB’s public claim. The ICC said the act demonstrated “a complete disregard for the sanctity of the PMOA,” highlighting the seriousness of PCB’s actions.

ICC’s Response and Fallout

The ICC has now formally reprimanded the PCB, underlining that the unauthorized recording and public release of the video amounted to a breach of trust. “The ICC, in order to preserve the interest of the sport, the tournament and the stakeholders involved, accepted PCB’s asks, although this demonstrated a complete disregard for protocol,” a tournament source explained.

The incident has sparked intense debate across the cricketing world, with many questioning the PCB’s approach and the ICC’s decision to concede under pressure. While the Pakistan team continues in the Asia Cup, the controversy has cast a shadow over their campaign, raising concerns about discipline, transparency, and governance in the sport.

Conclusion

As the Asia Cup progresses, the PCB finds itself at the centre of a storm it created by challenging ICC protocols. The governing body’s stern response underscores its intent to protect the integrity of the game. With tensions between the PCB and ICC showing no signs of cooling down, the cricketing world will be closely watching how this dispute impacts Pakistan’s standing in international cricket.