Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi recently disclosed how Pakistan came dangerously near to boycotting their Asia Cup 2025 match against the UAE, a decision that would have resulted in irreparable damage and losses of INR 132 crore.
Sethi revealed that Mohsin Naqvi, PCB chairman and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president, was outraged by the consequences from the handshake scandal during the India-Pakistan group match and threatened to take Pakistan out of the competition.
“In the heat of the moment, Mohsin Naqvi had decided to withdraw from the Asia Cup. My friends told me, ‘Don’t go, don’t help them.’ I wasn’t even planning to help Naqvi. I went to help the Pakistan Cricket Board,” said Sethi on Samaa TV.
He further mentioned that had Naqvi gone through with the decision, Pakistan risked sanctions from both the ACC and the ICC, foreign players might have refused to participate in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), and the board would have lost USD 15 million (approx. INR 132 crore) in broadcasting rights.
“If what he was attempting had succeeded, Pakistan would have suffered irreparable damage. We could have been sanctioned by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), penalised by the International Cricket Council (ICC), foreign players might have refused to play in the PSL, and we stood to lose $15 million in ACC broadcasting rights,” he added.
ICC rejects PCB’s demand to remove Andy Pycroft
The controversy began when Indian players, after the Indian camp declined to shake hands with Pakistan’s team following their win in Dubai. The PCB deemed the gesture disrespectful and complained to the match referee, Andy Pycroft, demanding his removal.
The ICC rejected the request and backed Pycroft, clarifying he had only conveyed a message from the ACC venue manager regarding post-match protocol. Matters escalated further when the PCB issued a statement claiming Pycroft had apologised, which ICC later disputed, saying he had only expressed regret over miscommunication.
Notably, PCB even filmed a private meeting between Pycroft and team officials inside the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA), a restricted zone where cameras are not permitted. The ICC termed this a serious breach of protocol, further straining relations between the global body and PCB.
Hours before Pakistan’s must-win game against the UAE, an emergency meeting was held involving Naqvi, Sethi, and former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja. The Pakistan squad was ordered to remain in their hotel until a decision was made, leading to the match being delayed by an hour.
The meeting eventually convinced Naqvi not to go through with the boycott. Pakistan played the match, defeated the UAE, and qualified for the Super Four stage. Although the immediate crisis was averted, the ICC has yet to clarify whether sanctions will follow over the PMOA violation.
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