The no-handshake saga refuses to die down. Just hours before their do-or-die Asia Cup clash against the UAE, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has fired off a second letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC), demanding the immediate removal of match referee Andy Pycroft.
Sources confirmed to Geo News that Pakistan will not play under Pycroft’s watch, rejecting the ICC’s earlier decision to stand by its official. The PCB insists the ICC’s inquiry was nothing more than a formality and failed to fully examine the controversy that overshadowed the blockbuster India-Pakistan clash on Sunday.
“All concerns must be resolved before the team takes the field,” a source inside the PCB told reporters.
The board has made its stance crystal clear: no Pycroft, no Pakistan. If the demand isn’t met, the Men in Green could withdraw from the Asia Cup altogether — a move that would throw the tournament into chaos.
Meanwhile, India have already booked their Super Four berth, while UAE’s stunning win over Oman has set up a high-stakes showdown with Pakistan in Dubai. Thanks to a healthier net run rate, Pakistan still holds the edge — but only if they actually play.
With less than 24 hours to go, the ball is now in the ICC’s court. A late-night announcement is expected, and the cricketing world waits anxiously to see if politics off the field will dictate the fate of Pakistan on it.
