The International Cricket Council (ICC) has dismissed the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) request to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from the Asia Cup, following a handshake controversy during the India–Pakistan clash. According to a report by Cricbuzz, the ICC has decided that Pycroft will continue in his role and will not be replaced.
While the ICC has not issued an official public statement, Cricbuzz reports that a formal letter was sent to the PCB on Tuesday night by the ICC, led by Jay Shah, informing them of the decision.
The controversy began during the India–Pakistan match in Dubai on Sunday, when a handshake incident at the toss caused a stir. The PCB alleged that referee Pycroft had advised Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands with Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav. However, the ICC clarified that Pycroft was merely relaying instructions given to him in advance by officials from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
In the letter, the ICC reportedly stated clearly that Pycroft did not act independently and was not operating in favour of the Indian team. The global cricket body thereby rejected the PCB’s accusation, maintaining full confidence in the match official.
The PCB had earlier said that if Pycroft was not removed, they would refuse to play their match against the UAE, scheduled for Wednesday. Despite the warning, Pycroft has been appointed as the match referee for that fixture as well.
Though the ICC’s decision has now come to light, the PCB is claiming it has not yet received any official communication regarding the matter.
Meanwhile, the BCCI responded after 48 hours, albeit not with an official statement. A senior official told news agency PTI that Indian players had done nothing wrong. “There is nothing in the rules that mandates players to shake hands after a match,” he said. “It is a gesture of mutual respect and goodwill, seen across the cricketing world, but it is not a regulation.”
Commenting further, the official added, “Given the state of relations between the two countries, it would have been more unusual if Indian players had shaken hands with their Pakistani counterparts. Our players did the right thing.”
He went on to say, “If there is no rule for it, then Suryakumar and the others did absolutely nothing wrong. Why should we offer handshakes to a country that consistently wishes us ill? India followed the schedule and played their match. No further gestures of goodwill are required.”
