The recent standoff between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the Asia Cup 2025 took another twist when senior ICC officials intervened. Pakistan had demanded the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft after the “no handshake” row during their clash with India.

Reports suggest that the ICC’s newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, Sanjog Gupta, took charge of the situation. He is believed to have directly engaged with the PCB and other stakeholders to ensure that the tournament’s proceedings were not disrupted. Gupta firmly opposed Pakistan’s demand, making it clear that the ICC would not entertain such requests.

Despite PCB’s strong stance and even hints of withdrawal, Gupta’s intervention helped the ICC maintain its authority. His involvement ultimately ensured that Pycroft continued as match referee, preventing Pakistan’s push for a replacement and keeping the tournament on track without further administrative controversies.

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PCB’s Official Complaints Against Andy Pycroft:

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) accused match referee Andy Pycroft of misconduct during the tense Group A fixture between India and Pakistan in Dubai on September 14. The incident fueled fresh controversy between the two boards.

The matter escalated when India captain Suryakumar Yadav chose not to shake hands with Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha after the game. Later, Suryakumar clarified that the gesture was not personal but a tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. He added that it was also a show of solidarity with the Indian armed forces for their role in Operation Sindoor.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) claimed that referee Andy Pycroft did not maintain the spirit of cricket during the India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash. According to their account, Pycroft advised the captains against the traditional exchange of team sheets and allegedly told skipper Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands with Suryakumar Yadav.

The PCB viewed these actions as biased and raised a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC). In their appeal, they requested Pycroft’s removal from further officiating their matches and suggested Richie Richardson as the replacement referee for the remainder of Pakistan’s Asia Cup campaign.

Sanjog Gupta in Charge of the Handshake Fiasco:

As per a Cricbuzz report, the ICC, led by Sanjog Gupta, took a strong stand against PCB’s demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft. The board clarified that there was “no valid reason” for his removal.

An internal review was carried out, and the ICC determined that Pycroft had not breached the Code of Conduct or any standard officiating procedures. The exchange was part of a series of six emails—three from each side—that reflected the tense negotiations and disagreements taking place privately between the Pakistan Cricket Board and the global cricketing authority.

Sanjog Gupta, who became ICC’s CEO in July 2025, personally handled the controversy and headed discussions on behalf of the governing body. On the PCB’s side, Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and COO Salman Naseer represented Pakistan’s stance.

Although Pakistan projected the ICC’s decision to hold an inquiry as a “moral win,” the world body clarified that the probe would not directly target Andy Pycroft. Instead, the investigation would remain limited in scope, focusing broadly on the events surrounding the India-Pakistan clash rather than singling out the match referee for misconduct.

Insiders revealed that one idea discussed was to remove Andy Pycroft from officiating only the September 17 clash against UAE to ease Pakistan’s concerns. However, ICC chief Sanjog Gupta dismissed the suggestion, stressing that conceding without proof of misconduct would weaken umpiring authority and create an unhealthy precedent.

Strong Yet Balanced Beginning:

Gupta’s approach in the Pycroft controversy has outlined his leadership style—firm, professional, and free from external influence. By standing firm against PCB’s repeated demands, he signaled that the ICC prioritizes fairness and procedure above politics. His stance is widely seen in cricketing circles as a clear declaration that accountability and integrity will remain central, regardless of which board raises an objection.

In a historic announcement on Monday (July 7, 2025), the International Cricket Council (ICC) has selected Indian sports and media executive Sanjog Gupta as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). An experienced hand in the world of broadcasting and sports business, Gupta takes over with immediate effect and will be the seventh CEO in ICC's history.

As the CEO of Sports & Live Experiences at JioStar, where he played a crucial part in transforming how sports are watched in India, Gupta has a wide range of experience. The hiring comes after the ICC conducted a comprehensive global search in March 2025 and received over 2,500 applications from 25 countries.

A New Era for Cricket Leadership

ICC Chairman Jay Shah had greeted the appointment with optimism, citing Gupta's "extensive understanding of international sports and M&E (media & entertainment) landscape" as being of key importance to cricket's future.

"Sanjog has huge experience in sports strategy and commercialization that will be hugely beneficial to the ICC," Shah stated. "His enthusiasm for technology and fan experience will prove to be crucial as we seek to expand cricket beyond its current strongholds."

The appointment of Gupta was unanimously approved by the ICC Nominations Committee, which is made up of Deputy Chair Imran Khwaja, ECB Chairman Richard Thompson, SLC President Shammi Silva, and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia. Having been approved by Jay Shah, the appointment was confirmed by the entire ICC Board.

From Journalist to Global Cricket Executive

Sanjog Gupta's career first started in journalism, before moving to Star India (now JioStar) in 2010. He had a number of significant leadership positions spanning content strategy, programming, and sports broadcasting, finally becoming the Head of Sports at Disney-Star India in 2020.

He was instrumental in increasing the viewership and commercial size of flagship cricket assets such as the IPL and ICC properties and also drove multi-language, digital-first, and women's sports programming.

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In November 2024, Gupta became the CEO of JioStar Sports after the Viacom18-Disney Star merger, where he emphasized innovation-led expansion and fan-first broadcasting models.

New ICC CEO Sees Fan-Focused, Olympic-Ready Cricket Future

In response to his appointment, Gupta was upbeat and committed to growing the global popularity of cricket. "It is an honor to take charge of the ICC when cricket is on the brink of historic growth," he stated. "With close to 2 billion ardent supporters, mega international events, women's cricket on the upswing, and Olympic entry in Los Angeles 2028, the game is on the threshold of change."

Gupta underscored his ambitions of improving fan engagement, strengthening cricket's roots in core markets, and taking the game into new geographies through innovation, collaborations, and digital technology.

The appointment of Gupta is a sign of the trend towards modernizing cricket's international operations, with a focus on data-driven decision-making, immersive fan engagement, and increased game commercialisation through digital media. His background in starting leagues like the Indian Super League (ISL) and Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) will be used to introduce fresh ideas for cricket administration.

Gupta's media-savvy leadership may prove to be a pivotal element as cricket strives to expand its presence in the Americas, Africa, and Asia-Pacific and looks to be included in the upcoming Olympics.