Dubai: A day after India’s emphatic win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup was followed by a refusal to exchange handshakes, the incident has escalated into a full-blown controversy.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has written to the International Cricket Council (ICC) demanding the immediate removal of match referee Andy Pycroft. According to PCB insiders, the letter—sent by the board’s director of international cricket—warns that Pakistan may withdraw from the ongoing tournament if their demand is not met.
“The ICC has been told specifically that if the match referee Pycroft will not be changed as per the demand, Pakistan will not play any more Asia Cup matches,” a PCB source told this daily.
The row comes against the backdrop of Jay Shah, former BCCI secretary, currently serving as ICC chair. Ironically, Pycroft had also been appointed by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), headed by PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, as match referee for the Hong Kong–Sri Lanka fixture scheduled on Monday.
The PCB has gone a step further by requesting the ICC not to assign the 69-year-old Zimbabwean official to Pakistan’s forthcoming home series against South Africa. That tour is slated to begin on October 12 with two Tests, followed by three ODIs and three T20Is.
At the heart of the PCB’s grievance is the “no handshake” incident, which the board squarely blamed on Pycroft. The letter alleges that the referee violated the spirit of cricket and failed in his duty by instructing Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha ahead of the toss that there would be no handshakes between the two sides.
“This is clearly against the MCC laws and the spirit of the game,” the PCB maintained.
Pakistan are expected to face India again later in the tournament, but officials said their participation in that match will hinge on the ICC’s response. “At the moment, we are waiting for ICC’s reply. If it is accepted, we will decide on our future course of action in line with the spirit of the game and MCC laws,” the PCB source added.
