Another twist in handshake row as ICC unlikely to accept PCB's demand of removal of match referee Andy Pycroft

TimesofIndia.com in Dubai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is likely to reject Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)'s demand for a change of match referee Andy Pycroft for remainder of the Asia Cup. ICC's response to PCB's letter, addressed to the global cricket body's General Manager Wasim Khan, is in the works and could be sent anytime now.

PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), wanted the immediate removal of match referee Pycroft. PCB had alleged that Pycroft requested the captains not to shake hands at the toss.



The handshakes didn't happen, both at the toss and after the game, and there has been no dearth of drama since.

It is reliably understood that Pycroft could well have been following instructions from someone in the ACC, as ICC's job ends after they appoint the officials in consultation with the organising body.

"What has ICC got to do with it? Their role ends when the officials are appointed. Someone from the ACC had a chat with Pycroft before the game, and what happened at the toss was a result of that chat. It’s about time the PCB chief finds out what that chat was, who did it and why—instead of pointing fingers at the ICC to further fuel the fire," says a source tracking developments.

TimesofIndia.com reached out to the ICC for a comment on the development, but got no response from the global cricket body.

It now remains to be seen what PCB do next after ICC's response, as they had threatened to pull out of the tournament if their demand for Pycroft's removal was not met. With that unlikely to happen, will the Pakistan cricket team not participate in the remainder of the tournament—a tournament organised by a body chaired by the PCB chief?

"All this talk and posting on social media is good for the optics and narrative back home, but it makes very little sense. If they had a problem with India not shaking hands, even that’s not mandatory," adds the source.

India and Pakistan are scheduled to train at the ICC Academy on September 16, and while the time slots are different, the two sides will be at the same venue for some time together. India have already qualified for the next stage in the competition but Pakistan's place, given the current threat and limbo, remains unclear.

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