Ex-chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Ramiz Raja, has fiercely criticized ICC match referee Andy Pycroft, questioning his impartiality and labeling him as a “favorite” for the Indian cricket team.
Relations between the neighboring countries took a hit after a terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, where Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 tourists.
Despite fan and former cricketer protests calling for a boycott of the Asia Cup match in Dubai, the game proceeded. India celebrated victory and sent a strong message by skipping the customary post-match tradition. Pakistan immediately followed suit by opting out of the presentation ceremony.
Stay updated with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
Former Pakistani cricketers criticized India’s decision, with Mohammad Yousuf making a derogatory comment about Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav. The PCB blamed former Zimbabwean cricketer Pycroft for the handshake controversy that occurred during their significant 7-wicket loss to India.
On Wednesday in Dubai, more drama unfolded during the ongoing Asia Cup when the Pakistan team refused to leave their hotel for a crucial match against the UAE, demanding the removal of match referee Pycroft.
After the standoff, Pakistan received clearance from management and reached the stadium, delaying the game against the UAE by an hour. While Pakistan battled for victory, the management held a press conference with chairman Mohsin Naqvi, consulting with former chairmen Ramiz and Najam Sethi.
Ramiz, a former captain, directly criticized Pycroft, citing his extensive officiating history with India, and stated, as reported by Geo News, “What’s intriguing is […] Andy Pycroft is favored by the Indians. Whenever I host tosses, he’s consistently present there.”
“This is blatantly obvious to me. Though I believed he officiated many matches, the stats appear one-sided. This platform should be neutral, hence the role of referees and officials. I felt his placement was fixed, but I hope common sense prevails,” he added.
The PCB alleged Pycroft barred India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan’s Salman Agha from shaking hands in the disputed match, attributing the incident to Pycroft’s miscommunication. They claimed the ICC was “ready” to investigate.
“ICC’s controversial match referee Andy Pycroft apologized to the Pakistani team manager and captain. Pycroft had prohibited both captains from shaking hands during the India-Pakistan match. The PCB responded strongly to Pycroft’s decision,” PCB stated on X.
“Pycroft described the September 14 incident as a miscommunication, apologizing. The ICC is willing to investigate the Code of Conduct breach on September 14,” concluded PCB. Naqvi, speaking post-apology, said, “I thank Allah for upholding Pakistan’s honor.”
However, recent reports suggest the ICC has dismissed Pakistan’s investigation claims, finding Pycroft not guilty. The former Zimbabwean cricketer apologized for miscommunication caused by the venue manager. The PCB continues to push for an investigation but lacks evidence to support their claims.
Pycroft returned to officiate Pakistan’s match against the UAE at the Dubai International Stadium.
