The 2025 Asia Cup was rocked by a major controversy when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) publicly demanded the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft following a contentious ‘handshake row.’ At the heart of the crisis, ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta personally led the international cricket body’s response, engaging directly in high-stakes negotiations with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and COO Salman Naseer.
The PCB accused Pycroft of ‘partisan’ behavior during the electrifying India-Pakistan group match in Dubai on September 14th. They claimed he actively discouraged captains from performing the traditional post-match handshake, an allegation that ignited the diplomatic firestorm.
In response, Pakistan officially requested Richie Richardson to take over Pycroft’s duties for their subsequent matches. However, after a thorough review, the ICC firmly stated that Pycroft had not violated any official standards or protocols.
The tension escalated dramatically, with Pakistan even threatening to withdraw from the match. Their players were reportedly held back from boarding the team bus, despite their equipment already being loaded, leading to a critical one-hour delay in the game. The match, originally slated for 8:00 PM IST, commenced an hour later at 9:00 PM. Despite the intense pressure and controversy, Match Referee Pycroft was notably present and officiated the toss for the subsequent Pakistan-UAE fixture.
While the ICC agreed to a limited inquiry, Gupta staunchly resisted demands for Pycroft’s temporary replacement. He emphasized that yielding to such pressure without concrete evidence would ‘set a dangerous precedent and severely undermine the authority of match officials,’ safeguarding the integrity of the game.
Beyond the heated exchanges, Pakistan managed to secure their spot in the Super 4s by defeating the UAE by 41 runs in Dubai on Wednesday. Successfully defending their total of 146 for 9, Pakistan’s bowlers clinically dismissed the hosts for 105. Shaheen Afridi made an early impact, claiming Alishan Sharafu for 12, and Abrar Ahmed soon followed, removing skipper Muhammad Waseem for 14.
Who is Sanjog Gupta?
Sanjog Gupta, who assumed the role of ICC CEO on July 7th, brings a rich and varied background in both sports administration and broadcasting. His career began in journalism before he joined Star India (now JioStar) in 2010. There, he ascended through various leadership positions, focusing on content, programming, and strategic development. From 2020, as the Head of Sports at Disney & Star India, he was instrumental in expanding their sports portfolio, prioritizing long-term growth and operational efficiency.
Gupta is widely recognized for driving significant innovations, including pioneering multi-language coverage, developing digital-first content strategies, and promoting women-centric sports programming. He played a key role in the growth of major events like ICC tournaments and the IPL, as well as popular domestic leagues such as the Pro Kabaddi League and Indian Super League.
With nearly 15 years dedicated to Star TV Network, Gupta’s expertise is extensive. In a March 2025 discussion on the ‘Bombay Sport Exchange’ (BSE) with K Shriniwas Rao, Head of Content (Sports) at Times Internet, he highlighted television’s enduring power, even amidst surging digital consumption. He noted, ‘If you think that India has about 250-270 million households, only about 150-260 million currently have a living room device which they can watch any content on. That’s the headroom for growth for all living room devices,’ underscoring the vast potential for television in the Indian market.