Asia Cup 2025: Pakistan's Participation in Doubt as ICC Weighs PCB's Demand to Remove Match Referee Pycroft

*This is a developing story*

Uncertainty over Pakistan's participation in the Asia Cup continues as the International Cricket Council (ICC) deliberates on the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) demand to expel match referee Andy Pycroft. The PCB has written a second letter to the ICC reiterating its demand, but the world body is believed to be unprepared to set a precedent by changing a match official under pressure. At the time of writing, a meeting was underway in Dubai.

As reported earlier, midnight oil was burnt over the Pycroft issue with officials of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) attempting to mediate. However, with Pakistan's last fixture - a virtual knockout game - just hours away, no tangible breakthrough has been achieved, with all parties apparently sticking to their positions.

It was earlier believed that a middle ground had been worked out, with a significant role played by officials of the Emirates board, the de facto hosts of the tournament. Under the discussed arrangement, Pycroft would have continued in the tournament, but he would have been taken off the roster for Wednesday's game between Pakistan and the UAE. Richie Richardson, the other ICC referee on the panel, was suggested as a replacement for that match. It is not yet known whether this arrangement has been accepted.

Some face-saving measures became necessary after the PCB took the extreme position of threatening to pull out over the issue of Pycroft, whom it accused of siding with India during the September 14 clash between the arch-rivals, which also involved the handshake controversy.

The situation escalated after the ICC rejected the PCB's demand. With the prospect of Pakistan pulling out of the tournament looming, top UAE board officials are believed to have stepped in to mediate between the ICC and the PCB.

They reportedly argued that, with tickets already sold and sponsors and broadcasters committed, the situation could become problematic for all stakeholders. Cricbuzz has reached out to all parties - the ICC, the PCB, and the Emirates board for comment.