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After the whole ‘no handshake controversy’, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was not very happy with the incident and lodged a complaint to the International Cricket Council in the matter. However, in what is a big setback for PCB, the ICC has rejected their request to remove the match referee, Andy Pycroft over violation of ICC Code of Conduct for the Spirit of Cricket.
The Chairman of the PCB, Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), had asked the ICC to remove Andy Pycroft. The request was because of his message to Pakistan captain Salman Agha before the toss in the India-Pakistan clash to not shake hands with Indian captain Surya Kumar Yadav.
“The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup,” Naqvi wrote on X.
As per a source of ICC, in reply to the lodged complaint, the council had completely denied PCB’s request and has informed that they won’t remove the match referee. The source said, “Late last night, ICC had sent a reply to PCB stating that Pycroft won’t be removed and their plea has been rejected.”
The team manager of Pakistan, Naved Cheema had also filed a complaint stating that it was on Pycroft’s insistence the team sheets of India and Pakistan weren’t exchanged between the two skippers this Sunday, which was against the norms.
Zimbabwe’ 69-year-old, Andy Pycroft, will be officiating the final group stage match of Pakistan that they have to play this Wednesday against the hosts of Asia Cup 2025, United Arab Emirates. Pycroft is one of the most experienced match referees in Elite Panel of the ICC with 695 international games to his credit.
