The International Cricket Council (ICC) is yet to issue an official response to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) request for a change of match referee, Andy Pycroft.
The PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has demanded that the sports governing body to replace Andy Pycroft from the panel of match referees for the Asia Cup 2025.
However, the prevailing impression is that there no sufficient grounds to accede to the PCB’s request. The Pakistan Board’s request comes after Indian players refused to handshake with their players after the end of the IND vs PAK clash.
ICC believes that Pycroft had only a minimal role in the handshake row and that he may have conveyed a message to the Pakistan captain to avoid the public embarrassment of one captain refusing to shake hands with the other during the toss.
There is a common row that he had no serious role in the controversy that rose after Indian players refused to shake hands with their Pakistan counterparts following the Asia Cup on Sunday.
The Pakistan board is clearly upset on Indian players’ reaction, but shaking hands with opposition before after a match is not mandatory,
It is believed that Pakistan has threatened to not play their match against UAE if their demand is not upheld.
The PCB said that the Indian Players’ refusal to shake hands with Pakistani players is a violation of the Player of conduct.
“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,” said Mohsin Naqvi.
But the demand of Naqvi seems to have no cut much teetch. The appointment of match officials is done by the ICC, in association with the local body. However, ACC will be incharge on appointing the referees.
Pakistan is set to play their next game against UAE on September 17 at Dubai International Stadium. Incidentally, Pycroft is the match official for the game.
