Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are set to face the wrath of the ICC over a video they posted of match referee Andy Pycroft’s interaction with a key member of the Pakistan team. Earlier, the Men in Green had called for Pycroft’s removal, which was rejected.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) are set to come hard at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after they posted a video on social media of Andy Pycroft talking to the Pakistan team before their game against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday (September 17) at the Dubai International Stadium in the 2025 Asia Cup 2025.
It has emerged that the ICC’s CEO, Sanjog Gupt, has written an email to the PCB over repeated violations before the game. The world cricket governing body has stated that they are reviewing the action over the incident. The issue has emerged in the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA), with Pakistan accused of unauthorised filming inside and also allowing access to unauthorised individuals.
It has further emerged that Pakistan were told not to take media manager Naeem Gilani into the match referee’s room. However, they did not listen to the request and threatened to boycott the game if he was not allowed.
PCB’s statement before the match claiming Pycroft apologised to them has also been objected to by ICC. The world cricket governing body has stated that he ‘merely conveyed regret about a miscommunication.’
Pakistan’s Andy Pycroft Drama Backfires
Infact, Pycroft was not even removed from the duties of Pakistan’s clash against the UAE. The matter escalated as the Men in Green threatened to boycott the game and did not leave their hotel. However, they eventually reached the stadium with the match starting an hour late.