The Pakistan cricket team has opted out of their pre-match press conference ahead of their highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025 Super Four match against India, scheduled for Sunday. The decision reportedly stems from ongoing tensions surrounding a “no handshake” controversy and the appointment of match referee Andy Pycroft.
Pakistan Avoids Media Ahead of High-Stakes Clash
According to tournament sources, the Pakistan team management cancelled their scheduled press interaction to avoid media scrutiny regarding:
- The “no handshake” incident during the last India-Pakistan match
- The continued appointment of Andy Pycroft as match referee, despite Pakistan’s objections
“Pakistan have once again cancelled the pre-match press conference in order to avoid questions on Pycroft’s appointment and the handshake controversy,” said a tournament official.
Why Pakistan Is Upset With Andy Pycroft
Andy Pycroft, a member of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, officiated the previous India vs Pakistan clash. During that match:
- Indian players reportedly declined to shake hands with Pakistani players as a team policy decision
- At the toss, India captain Suryakumar Yadav did not follow the usual handshake convention, which triggered backlash
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sent two formal emails to the International Cricket Council (ICC):
- Requesting Pycroft’s removal from the Asia Cup tournament
- Asking to assign a different match referee for future Pakistan matches
Both requests were rejected by the ICC, which expressed full support for Pycroft.
ICC Responds: No Violation by Pycroft
The ICC maintained that:
- Pycroft was not at fault and merely passed along a message from the Asian Cricket Council’s Venue Manager
- He did not breach the ‘Spirit of the Game’, contrary to PCB’s claims
To ease tensions, the ICC arranged a meeting between Pycroft and Pakistan’s leadership, including:
- Captain Salman Ali Agha
- Head Coach Mike Hesson
- Team Manager Naveed Akram Cheema
During the meeting, Pycroft expressed regret over the miscommunication, but the ICC clarified he did not issue an apology.
In a follow-up email, the ICC also accused PCB of violating rules related to the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) — an accusation the PCB denied.
Pycroft Appointed Again for Super Four Clash
Despite the previous controversy, sources confirm that Andy Pycroft will once again officiate the India-Pakistan Super Four match on Sunday. The decision sends a clear message from the ICC:
The global cricket body will not bow to external pressures or set a precedent by removing a match official based on team objections.
This move reaffirms ICC’s trust in its Elite Panel and signals a firm stand on protocol and neutrality.
What’s Next?
- India vs Pakistan Super Four Match: Sunday, Asia Cup 2025
- Venue: Dubai (match officials list yet to be officially published)
- Match Referee: Andy Pycroft
- Other Match Referee in Tournament: Richie Richardson
