The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said in a statement on Wednesday that Andy Pycroft, who was match referee for Pakistan’s Asia Cup match against India on September 14, has apologised to the team’s “manager and captain”. The statement was posted on the board’s media department’s X handle around the time that Pakistan’s group stage match against the UAE began.
The match had been delayed by an hour. “The ICC’s match referee, Andy Pycroft, has apologised to the manager and captain of the Pakistan cricket team. Andy Pycroft had barred the captains of India and Pakistan from shaking hands during their match,” said the PCB in its statement.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board had strongly reacted to Andy Pycroft’s actions. Andy Pycroft termed the September 14 incident a result of miscommunication and apologised. The ICC has expressed its willingness to conduct an inquiry into the code of conduct violation that occurred during the September 14 match.”
The statement had been put out along with a video of Pycroft talking to Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha and head coach Mike Hesson. Pycroft is referee for Pakistan’s match against the UAE as well.
The September 14 game between India and Pakistan was the first between the two sides since the Pahalgam terror attack. India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Agha had avoided shaking hands during the toss. After the match, the Indian players left the field without shaking hands with Pakistan after which the latter called for Pycroft to be replaced.
In a communication with the International Cricket Council, PCB had demanded that the Zimbabwean be removed from his post for the match against UAE and be replaced by former West Indies captain Richie Richardson. PCB claimed that Pycroft had instructed the captains to not shake hands at the toss.
However, the ICC hasn’t adhered to PCB’s request and in fact, Pycroft turned up at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday as per the match roster. Back and forth between the two bodies continued as Wednesday’s match was delayed.
Story continues below this ad
PCB has contended that Pycroft had informed Agha that there won’t be any handshakes during the toss after Suryakumar had taken the call to not shake hands in light of the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor. While the match between the arch-rivals went ahead, there were no customary handshakes between the two teams after India’s victory either.
