- Pakistan workforce set to face UAE of their final group match right this moment.
- PCB writes second letter to ICC looking for Pycroft’s elimination.
- PCB stands agency on its boycott stance in Asia Cup 2025: sources.
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is ready to resolve right this moment (Wednesday) whether or not the Inexperienced Shirts will proceed within the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, following the handshake row with match referee Andy Pycroft after the India conflict.
The announcement is anticipated forward of the nationwide facet’s ultimate group-stage conflict towards the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at Dubai Worldwide Cricket Stadium.
The controversy arose after Pakistan and India captains skipped handshake on the toss throughout their September 14 Asia Cup 2025 conflict, an omission reportedly directed by Andy Pycroft.
PCB pens second letter to ICC
In the meantime, the sources have stated that the PCB has penned one other letter to the ICC over the latter’s refusal to just accept its demand of Pycroft’s elimination from the Asia Cup 2025
Taking a agency stand on the difficulty, the PCB has rejected the ICC’s determination to not take motion towards the match referee.
The board, as per the sources, has refused to play matches supervised by Pycroft and is standing on its determination to boycott the matches if its calls for usually are not met.
Moreover, the PCB has termed the ICC’s inquiry towards the match referee as a mere formality, stressing that neither all elements had been examined for inquiry nor related individuals had been contacted.
In its letter, the PCB has stated that Pakistan will comply with play in any case its reservations are addressed a proper announcement of acceptance of demand is made.
Highlighting ICC’s growing woes, the soruces stated that the cricketing authority as no alternative however to take away umpire from Pakistani matches after Pakistan’s robust stance.
Handshake controversy
Not solely did Indian skipper keep away from handshake on the toss, however repeated the identical after the match ended, when the gamers of the opposing groups are speculated to shake palms as per cricketing custom.
Whereas the Indian gamers congratulated one another on the dugout after the match, they kept away from acknowledging or shaking palms with the Pakistani workforce.
Pakistan’s gamers lined up anticipating the customary handshake, solely to see the Indian workforce retreat and shut the dressing room doorways.
Later, India’s victorious captain, Suryakumar, defended his workforce’s determination to not shake palms with the Pakistan gamers, saying that it was taken in alignment with their authorities and cricket board.
The transfer prompted a robust response from the cricketing fraternity in addition to Mohsin Naqvi, who heads each the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and can also be the serving head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
Not solely did Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha, in protest, refused to attend the post-match presentation ceremony, breaking from broadcast norms the place captains often share their ideas, the PCB has filed a proper grievance with the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) and the Marylebone Cricket Membership (MCC), calling for the elimination of match referee Andy Pycroft from the continued Asia Cup 2025 — for reportedly instructing the omission of the customary handshake.
In the meantime, in gentle of the PCB’s robust stance on the matter, sources informed Geo Information that Pycroft is anticipated to be faraway from Pakistan’s remaining Asia Cup clashes.
Contrastingly, the Indian media has reported that the ICC has turned down the PCB’s request to take away match referee Pycroft from the continued match.
