After hectic negotiations over the no-handshake controversy in Sunday’s India-Pakistan Asia Cup match, where the latter demanded an apology from match referee Andy Pycroft and an inquiry into his conduct at the toss, the country’s top cricketing brass addressed a press conference to clear their stand on the matter. They said that the prospect of pulling out of the tournament had also been on the table. Here’s what PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, one of his predecessors Najam Sethi and former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja had to say:
Boycott was a very big decision: Mohsin Naqvi
As you all know, there has been a crisis going on since 14th September. We had objections about the role of the match referee (Andy Pycroft). Just a short while back, the match referee had a conversation with the team coach, captain and manager. He said that this incident (no handshakes) should not have happened. We had also requested the ICC earlier to set up an inquiry on the code violation during the match. We believe that politics and sports can’t go together. This is sports, and let it remain a sport. Cricket should be separate from all this.
I requested Sethi saab and Rameez Raja saab. If we had to go for a boycott, which was a very big decision – the prime minister, government officials and lots of other people were also involved, and we got their full support. We were monitoring the issue.
Pycroft apologised: Najam Sethi
PCB’s objective has always been that there should be no politics in sport. I was also a chairman and that was the objective then, that’s the objective now. They played politics, we didn’t. We demanded an apology and they have given the apology. Cricket is the winner. The world will support our stand and you are all seeing the world’s reaction to India’s stand.
Pakistan’s captain Salman Agha, right, walks past India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav after the coin toss before the Asia Cup match between the two teams on September 14. (AP Photo)
Biggest objection about Surya’s comments: Rameez Raja
This had become a critical situation where emotions were running high. I am happy that we haven’t taken an emotional decision that could have damaged cricket. That was very important. Now all the talking this cricket team should do and they have to take this story forward. Whatever emotions you have felt, show it on the field, show what a great cricket nation we are. My biggest objection was what was said in the post-match presentation (by Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav). That editorial was the critical point.
If an apology (from the match referee) has come and it has come, it’s good as cricket should be cricket, else there is no end. As Mohsin saab said, there will be an inquiry so that these things don’t happen again. The interesting point is that Andy Pycroft is India’s favourite match referee. Whenever I do a game (as commentator and at the toss), I feel that Pycroft is a permanent fixture (in India games). He has been a match referee in India games 90 times. It feels one-sided to me. This should not happen. This is a neutral platform. I hope better sense will prevail now.
