Pakistan Cricket Team to be Banned? ICC to Act on Big Rule Violations

The handshake drama after India’s win against Pakistan in the Asia Cup has now turned into a bigger headache for the PCB.

What started as a complaint against match referee Andy Pycroft has left Pakistan staring at possible punishment from the ICC.

What Really Happened?

After Suryakumar Yadav refused to shake hands with Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha in Dubai, the PCB filed a complaint, accusing Pycroft of failing to control the situation.

But when the ICC rejected their plea, Pakistan briefly threatened to boycott their next game before making a last-minute U-turn.

That move has now backfired. ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta has written to the PCB, pointing out multiple breaches of the Players’ and Match Officials’ Area (PMOA) rules ahead of Pakistan’s match against the UAE.

Which Rules Were Broken?

The violations are serious. According to reports, Pakistan’s media manager tried to carry his mobile phone into a restricted zone, something banned under Article 4.11.

Even when media managers are allowed phones, they must remain silent and unused under Article 4.22, a clause that was ignored.

Another major breach came when the PCB filmed referee Andy Pycroft inside the PMOA. This violated Article 2.2.11, which bans cameras from recording video or audio in that space. The video, recorded without audio, was later circulated to support Pakistan’s case.

When stopped from bringing the phone inside, the PCB even threatened to pull out of the tournament, adding fuel to the controversy.

What Punishment Can Pakistan Face?

The ICC will now investigate all these violations. If found guilty, Pakistan could be fined heavily. If multiple breaches are confirmed, reports suggest the Men in Green could even face a temporary ban from international cricket.

What started as a protest over a handshake may now end with Pakistan’s cricket board paying a heavy price.