Asia Cup: PCB’s Demand to Remove Match Referee Pycroft Rejected, Fear of Match Boycott Looms

 Staff Reporter | PNN

Following the handshake controversy after the India-Pakistan match in the Asia Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had requested the ICC to remove match referee Andy Pycroft. However, the world cricket governing body has outrightly rejected this demand.

Cricket website Cricbuzz reported that the ICC has officially informed PCB that Pycroft had no personal role in either the toss or post-match incidents. Instead, the decision for the captains not to shake hands was made by officials from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Therefore, any allegations of bias against Pycroft are baseless.

However, PCB told the media that ICC has not directly communicated with them on this matter. Meanwhile, Pakistani media claimed that Indian players did not shake hands with Pakistani cricketers not only during the toss but also after the match. They also reportedly did not meet Pakistani players waiting outside the dressing room.

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Aga expressed his frustration over the incident and even boycotted the awards ceremony. On social media, PCB and ACC head Mohsin Naqvi demanded that Pycroft be immediately removed from the Asia Cup.

Pycroft is also scheduled to officiate Pakistan’s next match against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai. Earlier, PCB had threatened that the team would not play if he was not removed. This raises the question: will Pakistan really go ahead with a match boycott?