Referee Andy Pycroft Apologises Over Pakistan Controversy, Stays Silent On Handshake Row

The International Cricket Council (ICC) cleared match referee Andy Pycroft of any wrongdoing after rejecting Pakistan’s demand to remove him from the rest of the Asia Cup in the UAE. Earlier, Pakistan had even threatened to boycott their Group A clash against the UAE in protest of Pycroft’s continued role, alleging he permitted a handshake snub during their game against India.

The PCB claimed this went against the Spirit of Cricket and the ICC Code of Conduct. However, they eventually backed down just hours before the toss, though the match was delayed by an hour. Pycroft went on to officiate the Pakistan-UAE match, conducting the toss which Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha lost. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Asian Cricket Council, stated that Pycroft had apologised for a “miscommunication.”

The PCB’s vague statement about the apology sparked speculation about its nature. An ICC source later clarified that Pycroft’s apology was only for the “miscommunication” and not for the handshake snub, which had been a personal decision by Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav.

“Toss Miscommunication Sparked India Match Crisis, Resolved After Pycroft’s Apology”: Naqvi

While the exact nature of the miscommunication during Sunday’s match remains uncertain, sources suggested it may have arisen from events at the toss when the two captains skipped the traditional handshake.

“This crisis has been ongoing since the match against India. We had objections regarding Pycroft’s conduct. The matter was only resolved after Pycroft apologised for the miscommunication at the toss,” Mohsin Naqvi said in a press conference in Lahore.

Naqvi, alongside former PCB chiefs Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi, held a joint press conference as the Pakistan board reversed its boycott stance and agreed to face the UAE.