Handshake row: ICC rejects PCB's demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from Asia Cup

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has formally turned down the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) request to replace match referee Andy Pycroft during the ongoing Asia Cup. TimesofIndia.com had reported on Monday night that a formal communication in this regard was being drafted and it landed on Tuesday morning.

The controversy started when PCB expressed displeasure over Pycroft's involvement in a pre-match incident. They claimed he instructed Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha to avoid handshakes with India captain Suryakumar Yadav during the toss.



However, the ICC has cleared the air through an official letter. They explained, as reported by TimesofIndia.com, that it was actually the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) officials on the ground who informed Pycroft about the no-handshake policy at the toss. This revelation counters Pakistan's earlier belief that Pycroft was acting under Indian influence.

India had chosen not to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts after the match concluded in a 7-wicket win for the Men in Blue. After hitting the winning runs, Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube walked back to the dugout and celebrated the win with teammates. Pakistan team and coach Mike Hesson tried to shake hands with their arch-rivals but were met with a closed dressing room door.

In the aftermath, PCB questioned the conduct of Pycroft and filed an official complaint with the ICC. Current ACC chief and PCB president Mohsin Naqvi had confirmed the decision to file an appeal with the global cricket body.

In the letter, PCB said, “It is alarming to note that an ICC-appointed and supposedly neutral match referee opted to indulge in conduct, which clearly violates the Spirit of Cricket and MCC Laws.

“The match referee failed to discharge his responsibility: to ensure that respect was extended and maintained amongst the captains as well as between the two competing sides; and to create a positive atmosphere by his conduct and encourage the captains and participating teams to do likewise.

“In fact, the Match Referee’s instructions to the two team captains were entirely directed towards achieving the opposite result. This misconduct violates Article 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Match Officials, which specifically makes it an offence for the Match Referee to conduct himself in a manner, which is contrary to the spirit of game and violates the MCC Laws.

“Given the gravity, political nature/background, and far-reaching consequences and repercussions, the misconduct has also caused disrepute to the game.

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