Sanjog Gupta, ICC's recently appointed CEO, is said to have spearheaded the discussions that prevented Pakistan's attempt to have match referee Andy Pycroft removed from officiating its matches in the ongoing Asia Cup.
Following the Group A match between India and Pakistan in Dubai last Sunday, the PCB had accused Pycroft of wrongdoing. What sparked the controversy was Indians refusing to engage in the customary hand shake with Pakistan players both before and after the match.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) then alleged that it was match referee Pycroft who prohibited players from doing it and lodged a protest demanding his ouster from Asia Cup 2025. Pakistan even requested the ICC to allow Richie Richardson to officiate their matches for the remainder of Asia Cup.
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A Cricbuzz report claims that the ICC, led by Sanjog Gupta, was unyielding. There was "no valid reason" to dismiss Pycroft, the governing body said in a clear response to the PCB's petition.
Following an internal investigation, the ICC came to the conclusion that the former cricketer from Zimbabwe had not broken any rules pertaining to officiating or the Code of Conduct. The exchange was part of six emails — three from each side — during a tense behind-the-scenes back-and-forth.
Gupta, who took over as CEO in July 2025, took direct control of the situation and oversaw ICC negotiations. Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and COO Salman Naseer represented the PCB.
The report cited sources and claimed there were internal suggestions to appease Pakistan by substituting Pycroft for the match against UAE on September 17.
Gupta, however, rejected the compromise, arguing that granting such demands in the absence of proof of misconduct would create a bad precedent and erode match officials’ authority.
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Who is Sanjog Gupta?
An influential player in the sports media industry, Sanjog Gupta was the first Indian to serve as CEO of the ICC. Prior to accepting the top position at the ICC, he was the CEO of Sports & Live Experiences at JioStar, the recently established media conglomerate that was established in 2024 following the merger of Viacom18 and Star.
Often regarded with modernizing sports broadcasting in India and enhancing cricket's economic and cultural impact, Gupta is a visionary thinker and storyteller. After joining Star India in 2010, he advanced through the ranks swiftly, and in 2020, he was appointed Head of Sports at Disney Star. He oversaw the redesign of Star India's sports portfolio, which included new features like multilingual feeds, digital-first coverage, and a stronger focus on women's sports.
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In addition to popularizing international competitions like the Premier League and Wimbledon for Indian viewers, he was instrumental in creating and growing properties like the Indian Premier League (IPL), ICC events, the Indian Super League (ISL), and the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). He is one of the most important voices in the Indian sports ecosystem because of his ability to combine content strategy with commercial success.
After a fierce international hiring process that drew more than 2,500 candidates from 25 countries, Gupta was named ICC CEO. In early 2025, the ICC Board confirmed his unanimous recommendation from the Nominations Committee. His nomination made clear the ICC's intention to concentrate on digital innovation, international growth, and incorporating cricket into the Olympic movement, starting with the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
The tone for Gupta's term has been established by his handling of the Pycroft incident: he is professional, principled, and unyielding to political pressure. The cricket community views his refusal to budge in response to the PCB's repeated requests as a clear indication that the ICC will maintain due process and integrity regardless of who files the complaint.
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