Pakistan Lodges Complaint Against Referee After Controversial India Match
A controversy erupted during the high-stakes Pakistan-India clash in the Asia Cup when match referee David Pycroft reportedly instructed Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands with India’s players—a move the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) says violates ICC rules.
In response, the PCB has filed a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC), demanding Pycroft’s immediate removal from the tournament. The board emphasized that his actions undermined the spirit of cricket and breached established protocols.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the PCB has not formally considered abandoning the competition, regardless of the ICC’s response to their request.
Reports suggest that Pycroft communicated his instructions to Salman Agha, who then relayed the message to India captain Suryakumar Yadav. Following the match, PCB chairman Mohhessin Naqvi confirmed the complaint to the ICC, writing on X (formerly Twitter):
“The PCB has complained to the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws about the Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup.”
The PCB also sent a formal letter to ICC general manager Wasim Khan outlining concerns about the incident, which they say breached both the Spirit of Cricket and the ICC Code of Conduct. Team manager Naveed Akram Cheema approached tournament director Andrew Russell seeking clarification.
The PCB believes that Pycroft’s instructions may have been influenced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in consultation with the Indian government. The situation intensified when India’s players and staff reportedly refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts after the match. India captain Suryakumar Yadav later confirmed that this decision followed guidance from the BCCI and the Indian government.
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson described the move as “disappointing,” while Salman Agha skipped the post-match presentation ceremony altogether.
Though the ICC is reportedly unlikely to remove Pycroft, the PCB has not withdrawn from the tournament. Pakistan remains scheduled to play a crucial match against the UAE on Wednesday, with a win securing their place in the Super Four stage. If they progress, they could face India again on September 21.
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