(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
ICC Cracks Down on PCB Over Asia Cup Violations
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has fired off a strong letter to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), pointing out several rule breaches during the ongoing Asia Cup. According to ICC sources, the board is gearing up to slap disciplinary action on the PCB for ignoring key regulations.
The trouble started with Pakistan’s big 41-run victory over UAE in Dubai on Wednesday. The PCB filmed inside the stadium and shared the video on their social media pages, which goes against ICC guidelines. Even after the ICC explained that match referee Andy Pycroft’s apology was just for a mix-up in communication, the PCB went ahead and posted more videos. They added a bold statement claiming Pycroft had said sorry to Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha and team manager Naveed Akram Cheema. The PCB also said the ICC was ready to probe Code of Conduct violations. But the ICC cleared Pycroft completely, finding no wrongdoing on his part.
This drama traces back to a heated India-Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup. India won by 7 wickets on Sunday in Dubai but skipped the traditional handshake with Pakistan players. Tensions were high due to strained ties between the two countries, sparked by a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22. Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 tourists there, fueling the bad blood.
Pakistan hit back by boycotting the post-match presentation. Things boiled over when the PCB complained about Pycroft, accusing him of breaking ICC Code of Conduct rules and the spirit of cricket as per MCC laws. The ICC outright rejected the complaint. In retaliation, the PCB threatened to skip their crucial must-win game against UAE.
Fast forward to Wednesday, and more chaos unfolded in Dubai. The Pakistan team refused to leave their Marina hotel for the UAE match, demanding Pycroft’s removal—which the ICC turned down. They eventually got the green light from team management and reached the stadium, but the game kicked off an hour late. Pakistan also ditched their pre-match press conference on Tuesday, though they did squeeze in a practice session. Their beef with Pycroft even led them to skip the post-match formalities after beating India in the T20 Asia Cup thriller.
As the Asia Cup heats up, all eyes are on how the ICC handles this PCB showdown. Cricket fans are watching closely—will it affect Pakistan’s campaign? Stay tuned for updates on this ICC vs PCB controversy.
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