PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi insists cricket be kept “Politics-Free Cricket” after an ICC referee barred captains of India and Pakistan from a handshake, later apologising. He calls for an inquiry, pledges stronger performance oversight, and affirms sports above political disputes.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has urged that cricket remain entirely separate from Politics-Free Cricket tensions, following an apology from ICC match referee Andy Pycroft. The apology stemmed from Pycroft barring the captains of India and Pakistan from shaking hands during their match on September 14, which the PCB saw as a violation of the ICC Code of Conduct. The Express Tribune
Speaking in Dubai, Naqvi asked former PCB chiefs Najam Sethi and Ramiz Raja to engage with relevant authorities to avoid drastic measures such as a boycott. He emphasized that despite external pressures, cricket must stand above politics. The Express Tribune
Pycroft described the incident as a result of miscommunication and personally apologised to the Pakistani management. The ICC also expressed its readiness to open an inquiry into the matter. The Express Tribune
Naqvi further praised the country’s leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, for upholding national dignity throughout the controversy. He also committed to addressing any performance gaps within the team, promising that selectors will work to improve weaknesses. The Express Tribune
Najam Sethi echoed the PCB’s long-standing Politics-Free Cricket position that sports should remain apolitical, saying that although political tensions exist, the PCB has consistently refrained from allowing them to influence cricket. Ramiz Raja added that maintaining restraint avoided harming the sport and that the team should respond to challenges with performance rather than emotion. The Express Tribune
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