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Sanjog Gupta | Source: X.com

The ongoing Asia Cup has not only seen fierce battles on the field but also a political tussle off it. Pakistan had formally asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to remove match referee Andy Pycroft after their clash against India in Dubai on September 14. But that demand hit a wall, thanks to the ICC’s new CEO, Sanjog Gupta.

Pakistan accused Pycroft of siding with India, claiming he told captains not to exchange team sheets and advised skipper Salman Ali Agha against shaking hands with Suryakumar Yadav.

The handshake controversy blew up after Suryakumar explained that his decision was a tribute to victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and a show of solidarity with Indian forces involved in Operation Sindoor.

The PCB wanted Richie Richardson to replace Pycroft for the rest of their Asia Cup matches, but the ICC, under Gupta’s leadership, refused.

An internal inquiry found no breach of rules or protocols by the Zimbabwean official. Six emails went back and forth between the ICC and PCB, but the governing body stood firm, saying there was “no valid reason” to remove Pycroft.

Sources say a middle-ground idea was floated to replace Pycroft for Pakistan’s match against UAE on September 17. Gupta rejected that outright, warning it would create a dangerous precedent where match officials could be targeted without evidence.

Who is Sanjog Gupta?

Gupta, who became ICC CEO in July 2025, is the first Indian to hold the post. Before joining the ICC, he made his mark in sports broadcasting, leading JioStar Sports and earlier Disney Star.

He was behind innovations like multi-language feeds, digital-first cricket coverage, and major boosts for women’s sports. He also helped scale the IPL, ICC events, ISL, and Pro Kabaddi into huge properties.

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