The PCB formally demanded that Pycroft should not officiate Pakistan’s remaining matches in the tournament.
A major development unfolded before Pakistan’s crucial Asia Cup 2025 group stage match against the UAE. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed through sources that Richie Richardson will replace Andy Pycroft as match referee. The change followed a compromise reached after a heated standoff between the PCB and the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The dispute began after Pakistan’s match against India on Sunday. Indian players chose not to shake hands with the Pakistani team, instead paying silent tribute to the 26 victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. The PCB also raised concerns about certain decisions and Pycroft’s conduct during the game.
The PCB formally demanded that Pycroft should not officiate Pakistan’s remaining matches in the tournament. They cited violations of ICC rules and lodged a strong protest. Initially, the ICC rejected the complaint, with a response signed by ICC General Manager Waseem Khan, a former CEO of the PCB. This fueled further unease in Pakistan’s cricket circles.
After a day of tense negotiations, a middle-ground solution was achieved. Richie Richardson will now officiate Pakistan’s next fixture against the UAE. The decision allowed PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the interior minister, to claim a symbolic victory.
Reports suggested that if Pakistan had withdrawn from the Asia Cup, the board could have lost nearly USD 16 million in revenue, and the PCB, already under financial strain compared to wealthier boards like the BCCI, could not afford such a setback. The compromise avoided this potential crisis.
The uncertainty also disrupted team schedules. A pre-match press conference was cancelled just 90 minutes before it was set to begin. Rumors of a possible boycott spread quickly, but Pakistan ultimately proceeded with its training session.
Observers noted that the mood in Pakistan’s camp appeared relaxed but subdued. Instead of high-intensity cricket drills, players warmed up with an old-fashioned football passing exercise rarely seen in elite cricket now. Sources suggested that the smiles on players’ faces masked underlying tension from both on-field struggles and off-field controversies.
In sharp contrast, the Indian team trained with high intensity for over three hours. Under the strength and conditioning coach Adrian Le Roux, players like Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma were seen doing Bronco runs to maintain peak fitness levels.
The two squads kept their distance during practice. No Pakistani player approached the Indian nets, where head coach Mike Hesson supervised another round of focused drills. The physical gap seemed to mirror the current political and cricketing divide.
Meanwhile, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav celebrated his 35th birthday belatedly with the media. He cut a cake at the journalists’ request, a day after India’s emphatic victory over Pakistan. The small gesture added a cheerful moment to an otherwise tense tournament backdrop.
