Asia Cup 2025: Earlier, it was reported that Pakistan had boycotted its much-anticipated Group B match against the UAE in Dubai, scheduled for today in the Asia Cup 2025. This decision came amid a controversy sparked during Pakistan’s recent match against India, where the customary handshakes at the toss and after the game did not take place. Pakistan claimed that match referee Andy Pycroft had instructed their captain, Salman Ali Agha, not to shake hands with the Indian team – a directive the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) argues goes against the spirit of cricket as well as ICC and MCC regulations.
Having lodged a formal complaint with the ICC and demanded Pycroft’s removal from the Asia Cup, Pakistan’s protest escalated when the ICC rejected the demand, stating that Pycroft would remain officiating in the tournament.
By refusing to play today’s match against UAE, Pakistan effectively concedes a walkover to the hosts. UAE will be awarded two points, securing their spot in the Super Four stage of the tournament. This development means Pakistan is now eliminated from Asia Cup 2025.
Can a Match Referee Be Removed Mid‑Tournament or During a Match?
To understand the legitimacy of PCB’s demand and the ICC’s refusal, it’s useful to look at what the rules and precedents say:
- The ICC’s Playing Conditions for various formats specify that the Match Referee is appointed by the ICC and must be independent. Neither participating team has the formal right to object to the appointment once it has been made.
- There is no clear provision in the ICC rules or in the MCC Laws (including the Spirit of Cricket) that allows for the removal or replacement of a match referee during a match or solely at the discretion of a board based on alleged misconduct (unless the referee is incapacitated or there is an extremely exceptional circumstance).
- In “exceptional circumstances,” an umpire can be replaced mid‑match (e.g., due to illness or incapacitation), but match referee changes are not explicitly covered in that way.
- Removal of a referee is generally handled off the field, after complaints, investigations, or through disciplinary bodies – not during an ongoing match. The match referee’s decisions are subject to review, and if there is proven misconduct, the ICC can take action post‑factum.
So, while a board like the PCB can request that a referee be taken off the panel or replaced for future matches, under current ICC regulations, they cannot force such a change during a match or guarantee one unless there is an established mechanism, like misconduct that leads to formal sanctions. The ICC’s rejection of the PCB’s request in this case suggests that the criteria for such a change have not been met (according to ICC’s judgment).
Implications & Observations
- Pakistan’s refusal to play is being seen as a protest of protocol and respect and has led to serious fallout: elimination from the tournament and public debate about sportsmanship and tournament governance.
- The ICC’s position reinforces that match officials are protected by procedural rules; disputes over conduct must go through formal channels rather than unilateral removal demands.
- This incident could spark discussions about whether the ICC rules need to more explicitly define situations in which a match referee can be replaced mid‑tournament – especially where accusations of bias or failure to uphold protocol are involved.
