THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Dubai, Sept 16: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has dismissed Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) demand to drop veteran match referee Andy Pycroft from officiating in the ongoing Asia Cup, despite Pakistan’s strong protest.
The 69-year-old Zimbabwean, with over 695 international games as a referee, is scheduled to oversee Pakistan’s final group-stage clash against the UAE on Wednesday.
The controversy erupted after Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha was allegedly told by Pycroft not to shake hands with India captain Suryakumar Yadav at the toss during their Sunday encounter.
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PCB officials, including team manager Naved Cheema, lodged formal complaints with both the ICC and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), further accusing Pycroft of instructing that team sheets not be exchanged between the captains, which is usually standard procedure.
An ICC source informed that the board “rejected PCB’s plea” and decided not to remove Pycroft from the tournament.
This has reportedly created friction within PCB ranks, with insiders revealing that the issue stemmed from Usman Walha, PCB’s Director of Cricket Operations, who failed to brief his captain on the Asia Cup’s “No Handshake” policy. His negligence left Salman Ali Agha unaware of the rules, leading to embarrassment for the Pakistan team.
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Angered by the incident, PCB chairman and ACC head Mohsin Naqvi ordered Walha’s dismissal on Monday. While Pakistan had pushed for Pycroft’s removal from the entire tournament, the ICC’s refusal—under the leadership of Jay Shah—has left the board exploring alternatives.
Reports suggest PCB is now negotiating to have another referee, possibly Richie Richardson, officiate their matches instead of Pycroft, though it remains uncertain whether such a compromise will be accepted.
