The International Cricket Council (ICC) is most likely to reject Pakistan’s please to remove Andy Pycroft from the panel of match referees who was officiating in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. The PCB submitted a formal complaint and holding the 69-year old referee accountable.
This has happened after Indian Team didn’t shake hands with the Pakistani side. As soon as the match was over, Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube straightaway went to the changing room while the Pakistan team was left waiting on field for a handshake.
Despite, PCB’s strong stance a report from Cricbuzz indicates that ICC is unlikely to act on the demand.
“The dominant view within the ICC is that Pycroft had only a minimal role in the handshake episode, and that all he may have done was convey a message to the Pakistan captain to avoid the public embarrassment of one captain refusing to shake hands with the other at the toss. The general view is that it would set a wrong precedent to change a match official at the demand of one member when, prima facie, he had no serious role in the controversy that arose after Indian players refused to shake hands with their Pakistan counterparts following an Asia Cup league fixture on Sunday (September 14) night at the Dubai International Stadium,” the report read.
Another report from Times of India suggests that Pycroft acted according to the instructions from ACC official.
“What has ICC got to do with it? The role ends when the officials are appointed. Someone from the ACC had a chat with Pycroft before the game and what happened at the toss was a result of the chat. About time PCB chief finds out what happened at the toss was a result of the chat. About time PCB chief finds out what that chat was, who did it and why. Instead of pointing fingers at ICC to further fuel fire,” a source tracking the developments told TOI.
