ICC punishes Pakistan, takes strict action against PCB for violating rules and filming Andy Pycroft during meeting News24 –

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has formally reprimanded the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for breaching “multiple tournament protocols” ahead of their final Group A Asia Cup 2025 fixture against the UAE in Dubai on Wednesday.

The controversy arose from PCB’s insistence on the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft after the handshake debacle in Pakistan’s previous encounter against India. Even though ICC turned down the appeal, PCB took the issue further, even threatening to leave the tournament. On the night before the UAE game, the board once again pursued its cause, resulting in scenes of mayhem.

As tensions rose, Pakistan players were instructed to stay in their hotel rooms while PCB officials, including present-day chairman Mohsin Naqvi (also ACC president), and previous chiefs Najam Sethi and Ramiz Raja, conducted an extended meeting. This caused the game to be delayed by almost an hour before players were given a green light to play.

Moments before the toss, PCB shared on social media that Pycroft had apologized to the team. A subdued video soon appeared on social media with the Zimbabwean official being seen in talks with captain Salman Ali Agha, manager Naved Akram Cheema, and coach Mike Hesson inside the referee’s room.

In accordance with a PTI report, ICC sent an email to PCB just before the game for misconduct and breach of Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) rules. The world body pointed out that PCB provided its media manager Naeem Gillani access to record the meeting despite reminder warnings that such access was denied.

“The ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta has written to the PCB stating that the board has been guilty of repeated PMOA violations on match day. PCB is in receipt of the e-mail,”

“PCB brought to the meeting their media manager and insisted that he be present during the conversation,” he added. Naeem was refused entry by the ICC Anti-Corruption Manager because “he wanted to take his mobile phone into the PMOA” as mentioned by Hindustan Times

“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 the sanctity of the PMOA, where the meeting took place,” the source said.

In order to prevent further escalation, ICC allegedly consented to a compromise in which Pycroft had met Pakistan’s manager and captain prior to the toss. PCB, however, demanded that they record the meeting, and they subsequently posted the video clip online, generating speculation. The ICC, however, explained that Pycroft had said only “regret over miscommunication,” denying PCB’s assertion of an official apology.